Krikunov’s Kazakhstan back to IIHF World Championship Top Division

          The national ice hockey team of Kazakhstan under Honored Coach of Belarus and Russia Vladimir Krikunov have returned to the Top Division of the IIHF World Championship after a one-year absence.
The result came after Kazakhstan succeeded at the IIHF World Championship Division I Group A tournament that was held in Hungary’s Budapest from 14 to 20 April. Kazakhstan topped the tournament table after beating Japan (5-2), Great Britain (5-0), South Korea (4-2) and Italy (3-0). Vladimir Krikunov’s side narrowly lost only one game against hosts Hungary 1-2. Italy grabbed the other ticket to the IIHF Top Division finishing in the second place.
        Vladimir Krikunov took over at Kazakhstan in summer 2012 after the sacking of Andrei Shayanov. Before becoming Kazakhstan’s manger Vladimir Krikunov also got the managing position at HC Barys Astana from Kazakhstan. Belarus’ Ivan Krivonosov is his assistant in both the national team and the Kazakh ice hockey club.
          Estonia relegate to IIHF World Championship Division II Group A. Estonia’s head coach is former forward of HC Dinamo Minsk Dmitry Medvedev who worked as the manager of the Lithuanian national ice hockey team from 2001 to 2009 and took over at Estonia in 2010. One of Dmitry Medvedev’s assistant managers is former forward of the Belarusian national ice hockey team Alexei Lozhkin.