Shakhtar Soligorsk won the Belarus Extraliga

Shakhtar Soligorsk sweeps Yunost Minsk in just four games to win the finals and crown for the first time champion of Belarus. Estabilished in 2009 as Dinamo Minsk farm-club, Shakhtar reached the finals in its first year of partecipation, losing against Yunost after seven battled games in 2010. In 2013 won the bronze before to face serious financial problems in last season that threatened the survival of the club. This season Shakhtar dominates the regular season, sweeping Khimik Novopolotsk (4-0), title holder Neman Grodno (4-1) and finally Yunost (4-0) in the playoffs, conceding just a game (4-0 for Neman in semifinals game#3). a key player in playoffs campaign, with 3 goals and 3 assists in 9 games - was veteran Andrei Mikhalyov, back on ice for the post-season after serving a two-years suspension for doping. It's the second title for coach Andrei Gusov after that won in 2008 with defunct Keramin Minsk.
"I want to thank all the guys, the administration, all: from our sharpener, ending to the Governor of Minsk region.Everything was done perfectly, not everyday a team is able to beat 4-0 Yunost! Now the main task is to keep the team. Naturally, someone goes above (to Dinamo Minsk)  and someone will have to leave, but we would like to keep the core of the team, because I've been through this in Keramin Minsk.Then we became champions and the team just "scattered" ... I am grateful to the guys for the work and patience, we had to endure a lot of negative points during this six-year journey. But today we are happy, and everything is behind. Now we need to build a team, we have what is need: a great logistical base as Yunost or Gomel have ... To this we must strive for." commented Gusov after the decisive 3-1 against Yunost in front of 6.000 spectators at the Chizhovka Arena in Minsk

Veteran forward Yaroslav Chupris shared emotions after the victory:  "Emotions, joy, ecstasy ... Victory! This season, the emotions were like never before.I dreamed about it for five years. In 2011, I played in the finals when I dressed Yunost jersey, but, you know, I feel more emotion in this club, because I'm here for the fourth year. Five years, the second final, the first championship Shakhtar - so memorable .And even more because we twice beat the opponent in the Chizhovka Arena, where we previously never won - all great!"

Yunost assistant coach Oleg Khmyl honestly recognizes the value of the opponents: "I would like to congratulate Soligorsk, the team actually has outclassed us in every aspect. We probably gave a lot of effort, energy and emotion during the semifinals series, so we did not have gas the final.The best team win." About Yunost, Khmyl said that: "four years without gold it's a lot of time for a club like Yunost, it is necessary to strive for gold. Yunost always battles for first place, and this time really wanted to win, but unfortunately did not happen."

 

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