Belarus’ President team defeated Grodno Region players in Republican Hockey League
The hockey team of the President of Belarus won the fifth match in a row in the Republican Hockey League, BelTA reports
On February 17th, the squad of the Head of State beat the team of the Grodno Region with the result of 10:4 (2:0, 4:1, 4:3).
At the beginning of the first period of the match hosted by Minsk’s Olympic Arena the guests were more active, demonstrating no fear in the fight against a formidable opponent. They created tricky situations on the ice, but failed to show their mettle. In the 15th minute, the hosts’ family team performed perfectly: after an accurate pass of the team captain, Oleg Antonenko, his son Artyom opened the score. Half a minute before the break, Maksim Parfeyevets scored the second goal. At the beginning of the second period, the tournament's top scorer, Andrei Kostitsyn, buried the puck after Aleksandr Lukashenko's pass. He did not stop and, after a pass of the Head of State, scored again. Then Artyom Karkotsky completed a spectacular solo pass with an accurate throw, and Vyacheslav Lisichkin got one back soon after. The result of the second period was summed up by Nikolai Lukashenko: 6:1. The final period of the match was full of counter attacks, with seven goals scored. Andrei Kostitsyn, Nikolai Lukashenko, Aleksei Shantyka and Oleg Antonenko scored four times, while the Grodno team responded with goals – from Vyacheslav Lisichkin, Maksim Skiba and Aleksandr Kovshik.
Artyom Karkotsky and Maksim Skiba were named the best players of the match, and prizes were presented to them by a bronze medallist of the 2004 Olympics, eight-time world champion in track cycling and honoured master of sports, Natalia Tsilinskaya.
As in all previous matches of these competitions, the hockey fans could enjoy bright performances of Belarusian pop singers during the breaks. In addition, the most active hockey lovers were invited to participate in the exciting contests right on the ice arena. The winners were later awarded prizes of the President’s Sports Club. Moreover, immediately after the match, fans received dozens of toys from the President's team players – as is traditional.
This season, the squad of the Head of State defeated the team of the Brest Region (7:2), then beat the hockey players of the Minsk Region (9:4) and the Gomel Region (12:6). In addition, it was also stronger than the one from the Mogilev Region (8:4).
The list of top scorers is led by Andrei Kostitsyn (9 goals, 6 assists).
The President’s team is a 14-time winner of the republican amateur tournament, while the hockey players from the Gomel and Minsk regions have one title each. In the final series of last season, the ice squad of the Head of State beat the team of the Minsk Region twice: 6:1, 6:4. Bronze went to the Brest Region: in the match for the third place, its hockey players defeated the Gomel Region’s team: 5:3.
The President’s Sports Club, the Sports and Tourism Ministry and the Minsk City Executive Committee are the organisers of the amateur ice hockey tournament.
