MINSK, 29 March (BelTA) - The ice hockey team of the President of Belarus reached the finals of the Republican Hockey League (RHL) on 29 March, BelTA learned.
The president’s team defeated the team of Mogilev Oblast 9-3 (4-1, 3-1, 2-1) in the first semifinal match at the Olympic Arena in Minsk.
The two teams faced each other just recently. In the final match of the regular season the President's team edged their opponents 8-7. The hosts kicked off the semifinal match on an offensive note and the tournament's best forward Andrei Kostitsyn opened the scoring three minutes into the game with his sixth goal of the season. Midway through the first period, Nikolai Lukashenko added another, also scoring his sixth goal of the season. Aleksandr Materukhin narrowed the gap with a shorthanded goal. Andrei Antonov and Oleg Antonenko scored two more to extend the lead just before the break. Less than a minute after the game resumed, Maksim Parfeyevets and Aleksei Baranov, getting an assist from Aleksandr Lukashenko, made it 6-1. Late in the second period, getting an assist from Pavel Volchek, Andrei Kostitsyn added to his tally, while Matvei Vinkevich netted a goal for the visitors, closing the period at 7:2. In the final period, Aleksei Shantyka and Andrei Glebov added two more for the winning side. Maksim Lutsky scored one back to end the game at 9-3.
Today's MVPs are Andrei Kostitsyn and Kirill Polyakov. They got prizes from MAZ-SPORTauto team leader Siarhei Viazovich.
Traditionally, numerous fans enjoyed spectacular musical acts, took part in contests on the ice, and received soft toys from the Belarus President’s team.
The second finalist will be determined today, 29 March, following the match between the hockey teams from Minsk Oblast and Grodno Oblast.
In the first round, the Belarus President’s team defeated the team of Grodno Oblast in Minsk (10-3), the team of Gomel Oblast in Zhlobin (5-2), the team of Brest Oblast in Minsk (8-2), the team of Vitebsk Oblast in Minsk (10-4), the team of Minsk Oblast in Minsk (3-2) and the team of Mogilev Oblast in Minsk (8-7). The team’s top scorer is Andrei Kostitsyn, with 18 points (seven goals and 11 assists).
In the final series of the previous edition the Belarus President’s team defeated the team of Minsk Oblast twice – 5-2 and 10-8 to win the event for the 15th time. The teams of Gomel Oblast and Minsk Oblast won the tournament once each.
The amateur ice hockey tournament is organized by the Presidential Sports Club, the Sport and Tourism Ministry and the Minsk City Hall.
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