MINSK, 25 August (BelTA) – One of the leaders of the Belarusian national ice hockey team Mikhail Grabovsky will not take part in the Olympic ice hockey qualifying tournament in Minsk on 1-4 September, BelTA has learned.
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward makes part of the expanded roster of the national team. Health issues, however, will prevent the player from joining Dave Lewis' team. Traktor Chelyabinsk defenseman Vladimir Denisov will not be able to help the Belarusians in the qualifier due to a shoulder injury.
It was announced after today's training session that on 26 August the team will be joined by Andrei Kostitsyn, Geoff Platt, Alexander Kitarov and Andrei Stas.
Prior to the start of the Olympic ice hockey qualifying tournament, the Belarusian national team will take part in the international tournament Cup of Three Nations which is due to be held at Minsk Arena on 26-28 August. Belarus will face France on 26 August. Germany will take on France on 27 August. Belarus will play Germany on 28 August.
The Olympic qualifying tournament for a berth in the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics will gather in Belarus four teams of Group D. Slovenia and Poland will take to the ice on 1 September. Belarus will face Denmark on the opening day of the tournament as well. On 2 September Slovenia will go against Denmark, while Belarus will face Poland. 4 September will feature Poland vs. Denmark and Belarus vs. Slovenia.
The winner in Group D will secure a place in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The Belarusian national team took part in the Olympics three times (in Nagano in 1998, Salt Lake City in 2002 and Vancouver in 2010). Belarus played in the Olympic qualifying tournaments four times. In 1997 and 2001 the Belarusian team secured its berth in the Olympics Games of 1998 and 2002. In 2005 and 2013 Belarus finished second behind Latvia and Slovenia respectively.
