News & Events in Belarus

Belarus President’s Team lift Christmas ice hockey trophy for tenth time

MINSK, 7 January (BelTA) – The Belarus President’s Team celebrated their tenth victory at the Christmas International Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament for the Prize of the President of Belarus, defeating Team Finland 7-3 at Chizhovka Arena on 7 January.

Belarus took a two-goal advantage in the opening period, with Andrei Mikhalyov and Maxim Slysh scoring at the both ends of the session. Yaroslav Chupris added another in the 27th minute. Less than three minutes later Konstantin Koltsov capitalized on an opportunity with the team short-handed to extend the lead to 4-0. Soon after, Andrei Glebov sent home a fifth on a power-play. The Suomi team pulled one back just before the second break, 5-1.

In the final stanza the teams traded two more goals each. Andrei Astashevich scored twice to lead his team to a 7-3 victory.

Daniel Corso (Belarus) and Aki Uusikartano (Finland) were named Players of the Match.

It was the second time Team Finland played in the final. In 2016 Finland lost to Belarus 1-2.

Finland took the tournament’s bronze six times.

Organizers also named Alexander Petrov (UAE) Best Goalie of the Tournament, Alexander Makritsky (Belarus) Best Defenseman of the Tournament, Andrei Astashevich (Belarus) Best Forward of the Tournament, and Toni Makiaho (Finland) Best Striker of the Tournament.

The UAE team claimed its first bronze, beating Slovakia 4-3 earlier on the day.

The Christmas International Amateur Ice Hockey for the Prize of the President of Belarus was first held in Minsk in 2005. The team of the President of Belarus won the tournament in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and now 2017.
Team Russia is a three-time champion (2007, 2011 and 2015).

The organizers of the event are the President's Sports Club, the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation (BIHF), the Ministry of Sport and Tourism and the Minsk City Hall.

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