MINSK, 2 April (BelTA) - The Belarus President’s team took the first win in the finals of the Republican Hockey League (RHL) on 2 April, BelTA has learned.
The Belarus President’s team defeated the team of Minsk Oblast 5-1 (3-0, 2-0, 0-1) at the Olympic Arena in Minsk.
The opening game of the finals (played until one of the teams secure two victories) kicked off on an offensive note from the regular season leaders. The first attack put the head of state’s team on the scoreboard. Andrei Kostitsyn took his team ahead with an assist from Aleksandr Lukashenko. The Belarus President’s team continued their fast hockey to add two more goals before the first hooter. Yaroslav Chupris made the score 3-0. The third goal went into the net after the assists from Aleksandr Lukashenko and Aleksei Baranov. The reigning champions kept the pace in the second period and added two more with the help of Maksim Parfeyevets and Andrei Kostitsyn. The final stanza witnessed an even battle and Aleksandr Kudryavtsev scored with eight seconds remaining before the final hooter to make it 5-1.
Today's MVPs are goalie Stepan Goryachevskikh and forward Pavel Pechur. They got prizes from renowned biathlete Elena Zubrilova.
Traditionally, numerous fans enjoyed spectacular musical acts, took part in contests on the ice, and received soft toys and sweet boxes from the Belarus President’s team.
The second game is scheduled for 5 April. On the same day the teams of Grodno Oblast and Mogilev Oblast will face each other for the bronze of the tournament.
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 Belarus President’s team secured a 9-3 win over the team of Mogilev Oblast in the semifinal.
The team’s top scorer is Andrei Kostitsyn, with 20 points (nine 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.
Follow us on:
