Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 15 October (BelTA) – The coaching staff and the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation believe that the task for Team Belarus to reach the IIHF World Championship quarterfinal in 2014 is difficult but achievable, Chairman of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation Yevgeny Vorsin said at the government session held on 15 October to discuss preparations for and hosting the IIHF World Championship in 2014, BelTA has learnt.

According to Yevgeny Vorsin, since June 2013 the national ice hockey team has been led by Canadian specialist Glen Hanlon with assistants, Belarusian coaches, Eduard Zankovets and Oleg Mikulchik. The coaching staff has developed a training plan, comprised an expanded roster of 45 players. Four of them play in the North American hockey league, 28 – in the Kontinental Hockey League, including 16 making part of KHL’s Dinamo Minsk, four – the Supreme League of the Russian Ice Hockey Championship, and nine being first-timers. Yevgeny Vorsin stressed that all the athletes are determined to represent the national team. In his words, some six months will be spent on four stages of training camps. “The main task of this phase is to mobilize players and pull the team together,” he said.

Yevgeny Vorsin also added that there had been addressed all the organizing and financial issues for a successful performance of the national team at the tournament.

The head of state demanded to create a team of the best players.

Alexander Lukashenko warned sports officials regarding the organization of work at Belarusian hockey clubs in general: “We should put things in order. Money should go to those who bring results.”