The ice has broken! Maccabi BY officially announces the creation of the first hockey team in the history of the Maccabi World Union in the Republic of Belarus.
Belarus is a hockey country. We love this sport for its character, speed and team spirit. The launch of our own ice project was a logical and long-awaited step for Maccabi BY. We are combining the strength of the Maccabi movement, our commitment to sporting traditions and our love for the country's premier team game.
Hockey in Belarus: From the Origins to the Present Day
The history of Belarusian hockey began in 1940, when the first match between a local team and a team from Minsk took place in Brest. After the war, with the opening of the first rink at the Pishchevik stadium in Minsk in 1947, the game began to gain popularity. Interestingly, in 1950 only 300 people played hockey in the republic, but by 1965 that number had grown to nearly 8,000 – and in just 15 years!
Over the decades, hockey in Belarus has become a true national treasure. The national team has participated in the Olympic Games three times, and its sensational 4th place finish in Salt Lake City in 2002, where Sweden was defeated in the quarter-finals, is forever etched in the history of Belarusian sport.
A special chapter was the hosting of the 2014 World Championship in Minsk. The President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), René Fasel, acknowledged that the tournament in Minsk exceeded all expectations, and that its organisation and attendance were unprecedented.
Maccabi BY Takes to the Ice
We are proud that Maccabi BY is the first organisation in Belarus to establish a hockey team under the auspices of the Maccabi World Union. This is a historic moment for our movement in the country. The Maccabi BY hockey team has already been formed and consists of amateur players who are ready to train, compete and share our values.
Creating the team is just the beginning. Maccabi BY will compete in the Second League of the Minsk City Amateur Hockey Championship. This is a serious and significant step for the first hockey project under the movement in Belarus. Regular training, official matches and the fight for results on the ice now mean that the Maccabi BY team is part of the hockey life of our country.
The ice has broken – we're on our way! Stay tuned.