Ex-Red Wings coach Lewis takes Belarus job

Dave Lewis. (John L. Russell/AP)

MINSK, Belarus — Former Detroit Red Wings coach Dave Lewis will be the new coach of Belarus.

The Belarusian Ice Hockey Association said in a statement on Wednesday that Lewis, aged 61, will be officially presented on Monday.

Lewis had short-term assistant coaching roles with Belarus for the 2009 world championship and 2010 Olympics.

The former New York Islanders defenceman takes over a team which hosted the worlds in May, losing 3-2 in the quarterfinals to eventual bronze medallist Sweden.

Belarus has long struggled to break into the ranks of leading European ice hockey nations, remains in the shadow of neighbouring Russia, and has suffered repeated doping scandals.

Lewis was an assistant coach at the Carolina Hurricanes until May.

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