MINSK, 5 January (BelTA) - The Balkan countries would like to explore Belarus' ice hockey development program. This matter was discussed during a meeting between Chairman of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation Igor Rachkovsky and players of the joint team of the Balkan countries, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation.

Representatives of the team, which is participating in the 13th Christmas amateur ice hockey tournament for the prize of the President of Belarus, got familiar with the work of the institute of national teams which has been successfully operating in Belarus for several years, the system of training of young hockey players, the domestic championship. Representatives of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation shared their experience of organizing major sporting events.

“The participation of Balkans Team in the tournament is a great opportunity for the ice hockey federations of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia and Turkey to discuss the ice hockey development programs in their region, and to gain valuable knowledge by taking part in seminars and presentations organized by the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation.

Players of the Balkans Team visited the Minsk Arena multi-purpose sports facility and a practice session of the HC Dinamo Minsk which plays in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).