Andrei Kostitsyn expelled from team Belarus

On Saturday afternoon Andrei Skabelka had to take the first difficult decision of his career as coach of the Belarus national team: for the late arrival to the location of training camp Traktor Chelyabinsk forward Andrei Kostitsyn was expelled from the national team of Belarus, as informed by the official site of the Ice Hockey Federation.

"Andrei was already in Belarus at least in last two days, but did not explain the reasons for his absence neither contacted the coaching staff" - said in a statement the Belarus Ice Hockey Federation.

"As says Federation press release: hockey player did not come to the location of the team. No, we did not have conflict. We had an agreement, we called up the day before. After playing with Traktor against Dinamo, Andrei stayed in Minsk to have a day off. Then he called my number and asked for extra half day of holiday, so he should arrive on Friday night. But the agreement was ignored. So we communicated, but did not come to the location. And without to explain his absence.
Such decisions are always difficult to take. I hope that the lack of Kostitsyn does not strike team. But one player should not put personal interests ahead of the team" said Skabelka to goals.by

Gomel forward Mikhail Stefanovich was called to replace Andrei Kostitsyn. Roster suffered another change due to force majeure: Metallurg Zhlobin Ilya Shinkevich is ill and can't attend the training camp. He was replaced by Neman Grodno defender Evgeny Lisovets

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