What kind of hockey player knocked down Lukashenka right during the game

Yaroslav Chuprys. Photo: hockey.by

During a hockey match of Lukashenka's team, the politician was accidentally knocked down – he fell onto the ice. Here's who the player was who did it.

Former national team player

Yaroslav Chuprys is 44 years old, and his playing position is forward. During his career, he played for Minsk clubs, including "Keramin", and spent three years at "Dinamo".

He finished his playing career at Salihorsk "Shakhtyor", where he played from 2011 to 2017, returning to "Shakhtyor" in 2018 for coaching work. In 2023, he took over as head coach but did not win any titles with the team.

Chuprys also played for the Belarusian national team. First, it was the 2001 World Junior Championship, and later as many as five World Championships for the main national team – the last of which was in 2010.

It was difficult to call Chuprys a megastar, but he accumulated some statistics – 98 matches for the national team and 47 (17 goals + 30 assists) scoring points.

In the summer of 2025, Chuprys was appointed to manage the Belarusian junior national team.

Well acquainted with Dzmitry Baskau

Chuprys began his hockey career in the school of the Minsk club "Yunost". Dzmitry Baskau, a former hockey player and former head of the Hockey Federation, who, after a ban from the International Ice Hockey Federation for his involvement in the murder of Raman Bandarenka, found himself in a comfortable position in the Council of the Republic, also trained there with him.

Even in childhood, Chuprys became friends with Baskau. This acquaintance still benefits him: for example, after finishing his playing career, Chuprys got his first coaching job precisely with Baskau's help.

Considered Russian language a sign of patriotism

In 2018, Canadian Geoff Platt, who was playing for the Belarusian national team at the time, gave a short comment to the media in Russian. This happened during an intermission of a KHL game between "Dinamo" and "Jokerit". Yaroslav Chuprys was then acting as an expert in the TV studio and called Platt a patriot for his knowledge of the Russian language.

Calls Lukashenka a sporty person

In a recent interview, Chuprys spoke about the politician as follows:

"A sporty person who loves physical exertion – I know that for sure. Look how he chops wood. A strong man who can give any young person a run for their money."

Supported Lukashenka even before the 2020 elections

In the summer of 2020, Chuprys spoke about his gratitude to the state for "peace and confidence in the future". In the post-election period, he participated in Lukashenka's inauguration and continued to play in the politician's hockey team.

Today, he considers his game for this team a great honor – and assures that there are many willing to play for it.

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