Comfortable win for Belarus to start Channel 1 Cup

Belarus 4 Kazakhstan 1 (1-0, 3-0, 0-1)

Day one of the Channel 1 Cup saw Belarus take on Kazakhstan in Novosibirsk. The Belarusian roster was comprised almost entirely of KHLers, with just one player from the Belarus championship. By contrast, Kazakhstan called up nine men from Barys but otherwise built its roster on players from the local league, plus one based in Poland. That meant no place for the likes of Nikita Mikhailis or Valery Orekhov of Metallurg.

The additional experience and expertise on the Belarus team helped secure a decisive victory for Dmitry Kvartalnov’s men. The opening goal went to Avtomobilist’s Roman Gorbunov midway through the first period, and the game was settled by three goals in five minutes of the middle frame.

Vadim Moroz extended the lead on a power play after 25 minutes, then Ivan Drozdov scored the third before assisting as Alexander Skorenov made it 4-0 on 30:15. Nikita Parfenyuk, the only Yunost Minsk representative on the Belarusian team, got an assist on that goal.

Kazakhstan pulled a goal back at the start of the third period when Ruslan Ospanov potted a short-handed effort. But Belarus was always on top, outshooting the Kazakhs 49-19 on the way to a comfortable win.

The three-team tournament continues tomorrow with Russia-25 facing Belarus. The final game, Russia-25 vs Kazakhstan, is on Sunday.