MINSK, Belarus – The new head coach of the Belarusian national team is the old one: Glen Hanlon takes over the post from Curt Fraser after two years.

Hanlon led Belarus to tenth and sixth place finishes at the 2005 and 2006 World Championship respectively after he missed the NHL playoffs with  Washington both seasons. One year later, he resigned from his post in Belarus to fully focus on his club team but was released ifrom Washington last season. The Canada-born American joined the staff as an assistant coach for the 2008 World Championship and will be head coach for the upcoming season. Hanlon will also coach the Finnish club team Jokerit Helsinki.

Belarusians Eduard Zankovets and Vladimir Tsyplakov, and Canadian Wayne Fleming are Hanlon’s assistant coaches. Fleming is also the main candidate as head coach of the Belarusian club Dynamo Minsk, which will participate in the Open Russian Hockey League from next autumn. Fleming coached Team Canada at the 2001 World Championship and was on the coaching staff of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. He was also on the coaching staff of the Philadelphia Flyers and the Calgary Flames.