Opinions & Interviews

“The World Championship is a success. Look at fans, spectators. Even those who didn't like ice hockey before are now following the 2014 IIHF World Championship,” said Vadim Devyatovsky. He noted that the advancement of Team Belarus to the quarters was the minimum everybody was expecting of them. "But as an athlete I understand what it took: full commitment. We can see that they put up a fight in every match. There is nothing we can blame them for," said Vadim Devyatovsky.

The championship is an absolute success. We see the incredible, amazing atmosphere at the two arenas in Minsk, the athlete said.

The athlete stressed that no one expected such a stunning performance from France. “These players have showed their worth in the matches against the elite teams such as Sweden and Canada. The championship is a success and the fact that Belarus did a comeback in the game against Germany is fantastic,” Vadim Devyatovsky noted.

Speaking about Belarus vs. Russia clash, the athlete noted that the result was not bad at all. It was a tight battle even though Belarus lacked its two leading players. This gives us the chance to repeat our success against Sweden in 2002. “I think the Swedes are preparing psychologically for the game against us. They understand that here at home we will try to prove that that result was not accidental,” the athlete said.