HC Dinamo Minsk win match dedicated to 35th anniversary of Belarus’ NOC

On 24 March, Minsk Arena was the epicenter of the country’s biggest hockey showdown. In the opening game of the Gagarin Cup playoffs, HC Dinamo Minsk took on HC Dynamo Moscow. The encounter, which kicked off the first round of the competition, was held under the banner of the Olympic movement and became a notable event in the series of celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus.

From the very first minutes, the game lived up to its status as a playoff clash, offering fans intense physical battles and a high tempo. The deadlock was finally broken early in the second period: a precise wrist shot from Yegor Borikov put the hosts on the board, 1-0.

In the final twenty minutes, the Minsk Bisons built on their lead, making the most of a power play with a clinical finish. Defender Darren Dietz doubled Minsk’s advantage with a blistering shot. The game was sealed by team captain Andrei Stas, who displayed excellent anticipation on the rebound to set the final score at 3-1. 

The game acquired a special status thanks to the attention of the head of state. The tense battle unfolded before Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who watched it from the stands of Minsk Arena.

This is not the first time HC Dinamo Minsk have faced their Moscow counterparts in knockout competition. The two teams previously met in the first round of the playoffs during the 2023/2024 season. Back then, despite Moscow finishing first in the regular season and Minsk coming in eighth, the series was a hard-fought affair that ultimately saw the Moscow side prevail 4-2.

The series continues for Dmitry Kvartalnov’s team. The next games are scheduled for:
26 March: HC Dinamo Minsk vs HC Dynamo Moscow (7:30 p.m.)
28 March: HC Dynamo Moscow vs HC Dinamo Minsk (5:00 p.m.)
30 March: HC Dynamo Moscow vs HC Dinamo Minsk (7:30 p.m.)

Press service of the NOC of Belarus
Photos by the NOC of Belarus