MOSCOW – The reigning champion Russia travelled to Switzerland for the 2009 IIHF World Championship with three goalkeepers, 9 defencemen and 13 forwards.

Vyacheslav Bykov has six NHL players in his team, while the other 19 players come from the Russian KHL, which means that Bykov is counting on more domestic league players than ever since taking over the team in 2006-2007.

The last time Russia had less NHL players in the team was before Bykov’s time. Vladimir Krikunov had Alexander Ovechkin as the lone NHL player in his team at the 2006 World Championship when the team missed the semi-finals, which hasn't occurred since.

Russia won the last exhibition game in Sierre against Hungary, 5-1. Oleg Saprykin, Alexander Radulov (2), Vitali Vishnevsky and Anton Kuryanov scored the goals for Russia, Andras Benk scored the 3-1 goal for Hungary while Ilya Bryzgalov was in the net.

Russia roster as of April 22

Goalkeepers: Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix Coyotes, NHL), Alexander Eremenko (Salavat Yulayev Ufa), Vasili Koshechkin (Lada Togliatti).

Defencemen: Ilya Nikulin (Ak Bars Kazan), Vitali Atyushov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), Konstantin Korneyev (CSKA Moscow), Vitali Proshkin (Salavat Yulayev Ufa), Vitali Vishnevsky (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl), Oleg Tverdovsky (Salavat Yulayev Ufa), Dmitri Kalinin (Phoenix Coyotes, NHL), Anton Volchenko (Ottawa Senators, NHL), Denis Grebeshkov (Edmonton Oilers, NHL).

Forwards: Danis Zaripov (Ak Bars Kazan), Alexei Morozov (Ak Bars Kazan), Alexei Tereshchenko (Salavat Yulayev Ufa), Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant Mytishchi), Anton Kuryanov (Avangard Omsk), Petr Schastlivy (CSKA Moscow), Oleg Saprykin (CSKA Moscow), Alexander Radulov (Salavat Yulayev Ufa), Alexander Perezhogin (Salavat Yulayev Ufa), Konstantin Gorovikov (SKA St. Petersburg), Sergei Zinoviev (Dynamo Moscow), Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers, NHL), Alexander Frolov (Los Angeles Kings, NHL).