Minsk-Arena hosted the final day of the eighth Christmas International Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament for the prize of President of the Republic of Belarus. Team Austria won bronze medals and team Belarus became the champion for the sixth time in history of the competition.

Bronze medal game. Austria – Czech Republic - 6:3.

Intrigue in the game between neighboring countries was in fact that both teams one time each had occupied the third place of the tournaments. So, one team would have been ahead of another in overall medal race in all Christmas Tournaments. 

The Austrians played without Bengt-Ake Gustafsson, but that fact didn`t help much their competitors. Team leadership overtook Stefan Herzog and Siegfried Haberl. The first scored two goals and two assists, Siegfried scored the important goal in the beginning of the third period, which appeared to be the last one in the game.

The Czechs had several chances to reduce the difference in the long run, but even in power-play, they could not break through the Austrian goalkeeper.

6:3 - well-deserved victory of Austrians. They finished tournament unbeaten, conceding just twelve goals in four matches.

Best players of the game: Stefan Herzog (Team Austria) and Frantisek Kucera (Czech team).

Final. Belarus – Russia - 4:1.

Crowded Minsk-Arena witnessed an interesting and tough game, where Russian team was difficult to oppose something extremely motivated to Belarusians.

Gennady Savilov along with Sergei Shabanov had become main actors on the ice. Forward opened the score early in the match and then made a fourth goal of his team. The goalkeeper made large number of spectacular and important saves and allowed only once to light the red lamp behind his net.

The Russians did not manage to defend their title, but they left a very favorable impression of their game style and skills. Participation of many titled players and legendary ice hockey persons, of course, grace the tournament.

Best players of the game: Sergei Shabanov (Belarus team) and Vladislav Poperechnyi (Team Russia).

Best players of the tournament.

Final standings:

1. Team Belarus
2. Team Russia
3. Team Austria
4. Team Czech Republic
5. Team Canada
6. Team Finland
7. Team Sweden
8. Team Slovenia

Best scorers list.

Organizers of the 8th Christmas International Tournament of Hockey Amateurs for the Prize of the President of the Republic of Belarus:

- Republican State and Public Association "President`s Sports Club"
- Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus
- Belarus Ice Hockey Association
- Minsk City Executive Committee

The general partners of the tournament are:
- Belarusian Potash Company
- Priorbank

General information partner:
- National State TeleRadioCompany of the Republic of Belarus.

Press office of the
Republican State and Public
Association "President`s Sports Club"