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Siberian husky is official mascot of 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship in Russia

What name the dog will get and whether it will have it at all is expected to be determined later

© Facebook.com/mascot2016

MOSCOW, April 29. /TASS/. A Siberian husky has been chosen as the official mascot of the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship in Russia.

The decision was unveiled on Tuesday during late-night TV talk show Evening Urgant on Russia's main Channel One. Show guests included the president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF), Vladislav Tretiak, and the head of the contest's jury of experts and former Russian national team forward, Alexei Morozov.

The Siberian husky has no name yet. What name the dog will get and whether it will have it at all is expected to be determined later.

The winning mascot was designed by Natalya Petukhova from the southern Russian city of Samara. She will get 200,000 roubles ($3,800) award. The other contenders shortlisted by the jury of experts from some 20 entries included characters Kot Matros (Sailor cat), Samovar Dymok (Smokey Little Samovar), and Russian Bogatyr.

The 2016 IIHF World Championship is scheduled to take place between May 6 and 22 in Russia's two biggest cities Moscow and St. Petersburg.

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