QUEBEC CITY – The Russian Hockey Federation has announced that goalkeeper Evgeni Nabokov and defenceman Andrei Markov will also be added to complete the World Championship roster.

Russia is allowed to add a third goalie now and two more players for the qualification round. They’ll do it with three NHL players: San Jose Sharks goalkeeper Evgeni Nabokov, Montreal Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov and, as previously announced, New York Rangers defender Fedor Tyutin.

Markov and Tyutin are joining the team today already while Nabokov is expected to arrive in Quebec City on Thursday. The latter will solve the goalie problem as only Mikhail Biryukov is able to play this afternoon against Denmark while Alexander Eremenko and not-registered Semen Varlamov are both injured.

The 32-year-old Nabokov, who played for his native country Kazakhstan in the ‘90s before switching nationality, will play his first World Championship for Russia. His only appearance with the national team was at the 2006 Olympics. Nabokov has played his 8th season for the San Jose Sharks.

Markov, 29, has represented Russia in four World Championships and the 2004 World Cup before, including the 2007 World Championship in his home region Moscow, where he was awarded best defenceman. He has been playing for the Montreal Canadians since 2000 and will arrive in Quebec City after a two-hour car ride.

Tyutin, 24, will play his first World Championship. The defender finished his fifth season within the New York Rangers organisation. He played two World U20 Championships and one World U18 Championship for Russia.

Defender Evgeni Medvedev (Ak Bars Kazan) and forward Fedor Fedorov (Dynamo Moscow), who have been practicing with the team, will not be registered.

MARTIN MERK