MINSK, 24 May (BelTA) – The 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division I will take place at Chizhovka Arena on 8-14 December, Chairman of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation Gennady Savilov told BelTA.
According to Gennady Savilov, Belarus will face very strong opponents for the only berth to the top division. It is necessary to take full advantage from the Belarusian application. “We will also test our readiness to host the 2021 IIHF World Championship and will have a chance to popularize ice hockey, including among children. The 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division I will take place at Chizhovka Arena,” he said.
Gennady Savilov thanked the Sport and Tourism Ministry of Belarus for support in preparing a bid to host the tournament. According to him, the work began the same day the Belarusian U20 team placed second and did not advance to the top division in Fussen (Germany) in December last year.
As BelTA reported earlier, the 2019 IIHF Annual Congress in Bratislava awarded Belarus the right to host the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division I. Another bidder for the event was Austria.