News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 25 May (BelTA) - Belarus former captain Ruslan Salei, who tragically perished in a plane crash near Yaroslavl together with the Lokomotiv team on 7 September 2011, was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in a special ceremony at the Victoria Hotel in Minsk, BelTA has learned.

Ruslan Salei played 917 matches in the NHL scoring 204 (45 +159) points. He played for Belarus’ national team from 1993 to 2010.

Those honored by the IIHF in the Players category also included Vyacheslav Bykov, Andrei Khomutov, Niklas Lidstrom, and Steve Yzerman. Murray Costello was honored in the Builders category and Dr Mark Aubry given the Paul Loicq Award.

Addressing the audience, IIHF President Rene Fasel said: The ceremony is very important for me because people who are inducted in the Hall of Fame have special merits in the sport of hockey. For example, Mr. Costello, who worked with the IIHF for many years, and also Mr Yzerman and Mr Lidstrom, members of the exclusive "Triple Gold Club”. Nobody will ever forget Ruslan Salei. We will remember the Olympics quarterfinal game in Salt Lake City when Belarus beat Sweden. For me personally it is very pleasant that Mr Bykov and Mr Khomutov are also included in the Hall of Fame because they worked in my home country of Switzerland for more than 10 years and made a great contribution to the development of hockey there.

The five honorees were present at the ceremony and received IIHF Hall of Fame members certificates and the jerseys of their national teams bearing the information about the memorable event.

Vyacheslav Bykov spoke of his commitment to the game of hockey and in wanting to continue as an ambassador for the sport. “It is my duty to promote the sport and work for hockey, a game I think is the best in the world.” “I would like to thank my parents for the upbringing and education, and my family for support. I also thank our coaches, partners, opponents, friends, and fans for sharing my passion for hockey and will to win from game to game.” Andrei Khomutov also echoed thanks to family, coaches and teammates and how much they mean to him and the IIHF for high appreciation of his hockey career.

Niklas Lidstrom was introduced as a player with the “presence, mind, shot and touch”. Niklas Lidstrom remembered growing up in Sweden aspiring to play for the national team and that through hard work, persistence and dedication he was able to do so on multiple occasions and lead Tre Kronor to gold. He also thanked his parents for their sacrifice in helping him to obtain his dream and current Swedish head coach Per Marts whom he said was instrumental in his development from the ages of 16 to 21.

Murray Costello has been a tireless advocate for the sport of hockey. He had a major impact on the growth of the sport in the United States. His hard work and negotiating acumen also played a significant role in the Canadian Hockey Association and the formerly independent Hockey Canada organization joining forces to form an all-new organization under the name of Hockey Canada in 1994.

Steve Yzerman could not attend the induction. His responsibilities as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning and preparing for the upcoming NHL draft in June kept him away. Instead, IIHF Vice President and Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson accepted the honor on his behalf. Nicholson emphasized not only Yzerman’s outstanding achievements as a player for both the Detroit Red Wings and Team Canada but as an executive and the architect of back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014.

The jersey of Belarus’ former captain Ruslan Salei was presented to his brother Vadim Salei in the presence of the mother, Tamara Salei. The widow of Ruslan Salei, Bethann, and their children spoke via video feed. Bethann Salei spoke of the sacrifice that her husband made for the game he loved so much: I'm sorry I could not attend the ceremony in Belarus. First of all I would like to thank the IIHF for recognizing Ruslan’s career. On his behalf and on the behalf of his family I would like to say how much we wanted him to receive the award personally. He sacrificed a lot for the game, he was a great leader on and off the ice. Every day I wake up for the sake of our three children. I thank all the people in Belarus for support and for remembering Ruslan.

On behalf of the family Vadim Salei thanked Rene Fasel and all who took the decision on his brother's induction in the IIHF Hall of Fame and said that for Ruslan hockey was his life.

For more than three decades Dr. Aubry has been involved in sports as a doctor in the Ottawa area and internationally at all top levels of competition. In addition to his work on concussions, Dr. Aubry made impressive contributions to the research of spinal cord injuries in sport, helped develop the Hockey Canada Safety Program and is a member of the Hockey Canada Safety Program Committee.

The IIHF Hall of Fame was established in 1997 to honor men and women who have made important contributions to the world of international hockey.