.png&type=webp){kind=icon}
University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass' Yevenko Set To Compete In IIHF World Championship
April 30, 2015 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. - UMass graduating senior defenseman Oleg Yevenko will be competing in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Ice Hockey World Championship for a second straight year as a member of the Belarusian National Team. The 2015 World Championship opens on Friday, May 1, and runs through May 17 in Prague and Ostrava in the Czech Republic.
Yevenko and the rest of the Belarusian squad will kick off the World Championship this Saturday, May 2, against Slovenia at 10:15 a.m. (ET), the team's first of seven preliminary round games. Belarus' game vs. Team USA on Thursday, May 7, will be televised live on NBC Sports at 10:15 a.m. (ET) and streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra. In addition, NBC Sports will also have coverage of the quarterfinals, semifinals and the Medal round, either televised or via live stream.
In the summer of 2014, Yevenko competed in his first IIHF World Championship and was the only player to participate in the tournament with any NCAA eligibility remaining. At the 2014 World Championship, Yevenko saw action in all eight of Team Belarus' contests, playing a total of 142:58 with a time on ice average of 17:52 per game. He logged two assists and was +3 with five shots, helping Belarus reach the quarterfinals with a record of 4-3 in the preliminary round.
Yevenko was a mainstay on the blueline for the Minutemen over the past four seasons, appearing in 132 career games and totaling 10 points on one goal and nine assists with 182 blocks. Prior to the start of his senior campaign, Yevenko was selected as one of the squad's assistant captains and went on to post career highs in points (5), games played (36) and blocks (81) in 2014-15. The Minsk, Belarus, native ranked second in Hockey East with 81 blocked shots, 11th nationally, and signed an ATO to play professionally with the Adirondack Flames of the AHL this March.
Yevenko is the fourth Minuteman to play in the IIHF World Championship along with Bustin Braun of the United States (2012), 2014 UMass Hall of Fame inductee Thomas Pock of Austria (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) and Toni Soderholm of Finland (2005, 2007).
| Date | Opponent | Time |
| 5/2 | vs. Slovenia | 10:15 a.m. (ET) |
| 5/3 |
vs. Slovakia
|
10:15 a.m. (ET) |
| 5/5 | vs. Denmark | 10:15 a.m. (ET) |
| 5/7 | vs. USA | 10:15 a.m. (ET) |
| 5/9 | vs. Russia | 6:15 a.m. (ET) |
| 5/11 | vs. Finland | 10:15 a.m. (ET) |
| 5/12 | vs. Norway | 6:15 a.m. (ET) |