MINSK, 19 July (BelTA) - Belarusian specialist Andrei Sidorenko will take charge of Belarus' national ice hockey team, BelTA has learned.
The decision has been made by Executive Committee of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation. The federation noted it will sign a one-year contract with the possibility of extension. Andrei Sidorenko replaced Dave Lewis as head coach of Belarus' national ice hockey team.
Until recently Andrei Sidorenko worked with HC Dizel from the Russian supreme ice hockey league. Previously, he headed the national teams of Belarus (1994-96) and Poland (2004-05), the U20 team of Belarus (1995-96).
After the poor performance at the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Copenhagen the Belarus team will have to fight for a return to the elite division in Division I A.
The 2018 IIHF World Championship Group A will be held in the Kazakh capital Astana from 29 April till 5 May 2019. The tournament will feature Kazakhstan, Belarus, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Lithuania and Slovenia. The two best placed team will advance to the top division.
