Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 5 January (BelTA) – The Christmas International Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament shows that Belarus lives by this sport, Swiss forward Cornel Prinz said in an interview with the Minsk CTV channel on 4 January, BelTA has learned.

The Christmas tournament in Minsk and the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship showed that Belarus lives by hockey. This sport is loved here. My friends went to Belarus for the IIHF World Championship. They returned home with a lot of emotions. That was a real treat. I believe this was also a good advertisement for your country, and Belarus did an excellent job, said Cornel Prinz.

Germany hockey player Stefan Shauer noted that the Belarusians are a true hockey nation. “I love your country and love the fact that you are a true hockey nation. We also have something to strive for,” he added.

Team Russia member Alexei Yashin said that it is always a pleasure for him to visit Minsk. "I am always happy to play a couple of games with the guys, to catch up. I would like to play with everyone. I really like the atmosphere during this tournament. Therefore I am always happy to play here,” said the hockey player.

Teams from eight countries are participating in the 11th Christmas Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament for the Prize of the President of Belarus, which will be running in Minsk from 4 to 7 January 2015. The venues are the Minsk Palace of Sports and Chizhovka Arena.

The team of the President of Belarus is the eight-time winner of the Christmas international tournament (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014). Team Russia is a two-time champion (2007 and 2011).

The organizers of the event are the Ministry of Sport and Tourism of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation (BIHF), the Minsk City Hall and the President's Sports Club. The partners of the tournament include the Velcom and Chistyi Bereg companies, Belarusian Potash Company, Belneftekhim and Belarusbank. The Belarusian TV and Radio Company is the information partner.