Belarusian Extraleague final in Grodno

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko came to Grodno to attend the final of the 2022/23 Belarusian Extraleague on 24 April.

The live broadcast footage shows that Grodno Oblast Governor Vladimir Karanik is sitting next to the president in the stands. The head of state’s son, Nikolai Lukashenko, is also attending the match.

Competing for the trophy in this year’s final are HC Neman Grodno and the country’s reigning champion, HC Metallurg Zhlobin.

The final match of the season is taking place in the Grodno Ice Palace. In the final series Neman Grodno won the first (2-0), third (5-0) and fifth (6-1) matches and Metallurg Zhlobin responded with victories in the second (2-1), fourth (3-0) and sixth (7-1) games. A year ago, the fate of the President's Cup was also decided in the seventh game. Then Metallurg beat Yunost 3-0.

Earlier, teams from Grodno and Zhlobin met in the finals in 2012 and 2013. The first final ended in favor of the Wolves. A year later the Red and Black took revenge. If Neman win, it will become the eight-time champion of Belarus. If Metallurg are victorious, the team will raise the trophy for the third time.