Neman HC — a Continental Cup winner
A delegation of representatives from the Belarusian Federation has returned from Switzerland, having attended a Champions League Council session, hosted by the IIHF headquarters. One of the major issues discussed was the inclusion of the Belarusian team among the permanent participants of the tournament. However, the decision will depend on the Champions League’s further development.
Yaroslav Zavgorodny, General Secretary of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation, tells us that the organisers of the League have an obligation to the tournament’s founding clubs for the 2016-2017 season. He notes, “In 2015, Belarus was represented in the Champions League by Grodno Neman: the winner of the Continental Cup (held under the IIHF aegis). We do try to give Champions League permanent status to squads which win the prestigious European tournament but it’s still too early to speak about other Belarusian squads joining the League,” explains Mr. Zavgorodny.
During the Belarusian delegation’s visit to Switzerland, the President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), René Fasel, also met the Chairman of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation, Igor Rachkovsky, who confirmed Belarus’ goal of again hosting the IIHF World Championship in Minsk. Mr. Fasel expressed complete support in this respect, noting the highly professional level in which the world forum was organised in the Belarusian capital in 2014.
By Yegor Glebov
