The system of training of Belarusian ice hockey players needs reforming, president Alyaksandr Lukashenka said when meeting with IIHF Head Rene Fasel.
“We are seriously lagging behind Western ice hockey in terms of game concepts, tactics, and strategy. We need to focus on the system of training of athletes, first of all, ice hockey players, using the best practices of Canadian and U.S. specialists as they play different ice hockey there,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka said.
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According to the Belarusian leader, the performance of the team is also affected by low motivation of players and low competition in the team.
The Belarusian national ice hockey team will not take part in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. On September 4, in the crucial game of the Olympic qualification, they lost to Slovenia 2-3 in a shootout.
Phot: AP/Dmitry Brushko
