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Group A features Belarus President’s Team, Balkans Team comprising representatives of the countries of the former Yugoslavia and also Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. The other two teams in the group are the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland. Group B includes Russia, Germany, Finland and Slovakia.

The preliminary stage of the tournament will be played in two groups. Second-placed teams will play in the bronze-medal game; first-placed teams will compete for the main prize in the final match. All the games of the tournament will be played at two arenas of Chizhovka Arena.

The current winner of the tournament is the ice hockey team of the President of Belarus who beat Finland 2-1 a year ago. The bronze medal went to Slovakia who thrashed Sweden 17-3 in the bronze-medal game.

For the first time, the tournament was held at Christmas in 2005. In the finals the Belarus President’s Team overcame the rivals from Russia (11-5).

Schedule of the 13th Christmas Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament:

Chizhovka Arena

4 January

Group A (big arena)

Balkans Team vs Switzerland (13.00)

Opening ceremony (17.30)

Belarus vs UAE (19.00).

Group B (small arena)

Finland vs Germany (12.00)

Slovakia vs Russia (15.30).

5 January

Group A (big arena)

UAE vs Switzerland (14.00)

Belarus vs Balkans Team (19.00).

Group B (small arena)

Russia vs Finland (13.00)

Germany vs Slovakia (17.00).

6 January

Group A (big arena)

UAE vs Balkans Team (14.00),

Switzerland vs Belarus (19.00).

Group B (small arena)

Russia vs Germany (15.00)

Finland vs Slovakia (19.00).

7 January (big arena)

Bronze-medal game (13.00)

Gold-medal game (18:00).

The Christmas Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament attracts a great number of fans. Admission to the matches is free.

The team of the President of Belarus is the nine-time winner of the Christmas international tournament (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016). Team Russia is a three-time champion (2007, 2011 and 2015).

The organizers of the event are the President's Sports Club, the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation (BIHF), the Ministry of Sport and Tourism and the Minsk City Hall.