The hockey team associated with the President of Belarus has achieved its sixth victory in the Republican Hockey League, as reported by BelTA. The team emerged triumphant over the Vitebsk Region ice hockey players in the final match of the preliminary stage, with a winning score of 13:3 (4:0, 3:0, 6:3) at Minsk’s Olympic Arena on March 9th.
The game was dominated by the Presidential squad, with the hosts scoring four times in the first period alone. Oleg Antonenko, the captain of the team, scored twice, while Nikolai Lukashenko and top scorer Andrei Kostitsyn each contributed a goal. Oleg Antonenko later scored his third goal, with Artyom Karkotsky and Dmitry Yudin also finding the back of the net. In the third period, Nikolai Lukashenko and Artyom Karkotsky scored twice, and Andrei Bashko added another goal. Aleksandr Lukashenko provided assistance by assisting in two goals. The Vitebsk Region team managed to respond with goals from Igor Kovalenya, Aleksei Korostik, and Yevgeny Avdosev.
Following their outstanding performance, Nikolai Lukashenko and Ruslan Solodkin were recognised as the best players of the match and received prizes from the Minister of Sports and Tourism, Sergei Kovalchuk.
In addition to the exciting hockey action, the audience enjoyed performances by Belarusian pop singers during the breaks, and enthusiastic fans participated in on-ice competitions, with prizes provided by the President’s Sports Club. As a special treat, fans were presented with soft toys from the players of the President’s team as soon as the final whistle blew.
Throughout the season, the Presidential team has secured victories against ice hockey teams from the Brest Region (7:2), the Minsk Region (9:4), the Gomel Region (12:6), the Mogilev Region (8:4), and the Grodno Region (10:4).
With the first stage of the tournament concluded, the Head of State’s squad is set to face the Grodno Region team in the semi-finals, while the teams of the Minsk and Brest regions will also compete in the other semi-final. Notably, Andrei Kostitsyn leads the list of top scorers with an impressive 19 points (10 goals and 9 assists).
The President’s team has a remarkable track record, having won the National Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament fourteen times. Additionally, hockey players from the Gomel and Minsk regions have each claimed one title. During the previous season’s final series, the Head of State’s team emerged victorious against the Minsk Region squad with scores of 6:1 and 6:4. The bronze awards were secured by the hockey players from the Brest Region, who defeated the Gomel Region team in the match for third place with a score of 5:3.
The amateur hockey tournament is organised by the President’s Sports Club, in collaboration with the Sports and Tourism Ministry and the Minsk City Executive Committee.
In conclusion, the President’s ice hockey team continues to demonstrate outstanding skill and sportsmanship, securing impressive victories and advancing to the semi-finals of the Republican Hockey League. Their success is a testament to their dedication and talent, and fans eagerly anticipate their future performances in the tournament.