Two prisoners in central Russia attempt ice-hockey final escape

VORONEZH, May 19 (RIA Novosti) - Two convicts at a prison camp in central Russia's Ivanovo Region timed their escape for the final of the Ice Hockey World Championship between Russian and Canada on Sunday.

A spokesman for the local prosecutor's office said the two inmates, convicted of murder and aggravated robbery, had been preparing to escape from the high security prison for a long time and had decided that their best chance would be when prison guards were watching the world championship final on TV.

However, he said, an alarm went off and the guards detained the two prisoners, putting an end to their break for freedom.

In the match, the Russian national ice hockey team beat Canada 5-4, becoming world champions for the first time in 15 years.