Belarus U-20 ice hockey team returns to Elite Division

The national U-20 team claimed gold at the IIHF World U20 Division 1 Group A, thus making its way back to the Elite Division.

In its last match with the Austrians in Bremerhaven, the Yuri Faikou’s team gained the upper hand – 4:0 (1:0, 2:0, 1:0). The Belarusians opened the score by the end of the first period. Evgeny Astankov assisted Andrei Bialevich, whose precise shot put his team on leading position (1:0). In the next period boys got the advantage of playing in majority – Pavel Varabei pulled the second puck (2:0) in the rivals’ net and Ruslan Vasilchuk’s goal nailed down a success (3:0). The last goal was scored by Evgeny Astankov.

The overall standing: Belarus – 13 points/5 matches, Germany – 8/4, Austria – 6/5, France – 6/5, Kazakhstan – 6/5, Norway – 3/5.

Belarus returns to Junior Elite Division.