Belarus President’s hockey team win at start of 20th RHL season

The Belarus President’s hockey team got off to a winning start in the milestone 20th season of the Republican Hockey League (RHL).

The first goal of the new season was scored by the hosts’ forward Nikolai Lukashenko, who struck in the 12th minute of the opening period. Shortly before the break, Dmitry Buinitsky beat the visitors’ goalkeeper for the second time. At the very start of the second period, Nikolai Lukashenko scored again, and then his teammates Pavel Volchek, Aleksei Karkotsky, Andrei Mikhalev, Aleksei Baranov and Andrei Bashko added goals. The opponents replied with a precise shot from Andrei Gidrevich. In the final third, Nikolai Lukashenko scored two more goals for the winners, while Pavel Volchek and Aleksandr Lukashenko found the net once each, the latter also registering two assists. For the Grodno Oblast team, Sergei Malyavko scored twice, with Yevgeny Koryttso, Viktor Kazharov, Andrei Orlyuk, Nikita Kryskin and Dmitry Aleshchik adding a goal apiece.

Nikolai Lukashenko and Andrei Gidrevich were named the best players of the match. They were presented with awards by Belarusian Sports Minister Sergei Kovalchuk.

Fans who filled the stands of Olympic Arena were treated to a spectacular laser show and performances by Belarusian artists, and after the game they received soft toys from the Presidential team.

In the last season’s final series of the amateur tournament, the Belarus President’s team defeated the Minsk Oblast team twice, 6-3 and 4-2, to win the competition for the 17th time. The Gomel Oblast team and the Minsk Oblast team have one title each.