No upsets on opening day in Krynica

15 Apr 2012 | Joeri Loonen

Krynica, Poland - The opening day of the 2012 IIHF World Championship Division 1 B did not see any noteworthy upsets. Hosts Poland thrashed a short-handed Lithuanian side while Korea and the Netherlands overcame Australia and Romania.

Australia - Korea 4-8 (3-3; 1-1; 0-4)

Boxscore

Newly promoted Australia gave Korea a genuine run for their money but couldn´t keep it up for the full 60 minutes. Immediately from the start favourites Korea took control of the game and outskated their opponents. With a pair of goals in the opening 5 minutes, the game seemed to be heading towards a monster victory.

But Australia sent out a warning themselves not to take the hockey roos too lightly. They responded with a pair of goals by Tommy Powell themselves to tie the game.

Australia´s power play kept clicking nicely causing Korea to stay out of the box. After 40 minutes and the score even at 4-4 an upset was on the cards.

Eventually the game lasted one period too long for Australia. Korea clinically turned the game in their favour with 4 unanswered goals to run out to a 4-8 victory in which 7 different Korean players managed to find the net.

Outshot 39-27, Australia will be looking to pick up their first points tomorrow against the Netherlands.

Romania - Netherlands 1-4 (0-0; 1-3; 0-1)

Boxscore

A pair of second period goals by Diederick Hagemeijer paved the path for the Netherlands to find their way past Romania. Both teams seemed nervous heading into the first period with very few chances on both ends of the ice.

In the middle stanza both teams shook off the breaks. Romania got on the board first when Roberto Gliga cleverly redirected a blueline shot from close range. The goal paralyzed the Dutch. Romania was unfortunate not to extend their lead having a shot rang off the post and one cleared from the goal line.

With the Netherlands searching for a helping hand, it was Romania who handed it to them. Two needless penalties within two minutes caused Romania to lose the upper hand and eventually the game. The Dutch struck twice with the man advantage and had another breakaway goal to go up 3-1 after the second period.

Marcel Kars added a fourth late in a final period in which Romania tried but could not threaten a Netherlands team which did not seem to want to waste any unnecesary energy any longer with the points secured.

Ian Meierdres had 23 saves for the Netherlands who outshot Romania 25-14.

Lithuania - Poland 0-9 (0-2; 0-4; 0-3)

Boxscore

Playing the tournament opener on home ice proved no obstacle for Poland. Aiming for a gold medal and promotion to Division 1A, where they feel the team belongs, Poland demolished Lithuania 9-0.

Immediately after the first puck drop, Poland made it to the other opponents in the group clear their ambitions are serious. A Lithuanian side carrying just 15 skaters proved no match for the host nation.

It took 10 minutes for Poland to find a hole behind goaltender Nerijus Daukcevicius but after Pior Sarnikt's power play goal there was no stopping the red machine. When the dust had settled the shot clock showed Poland outshot their opponents 41-9 and with a 9-0 score, Poland spared the Lithuanians from a double digit loss.

Krystian Dziubinski scored twice for the team of head coach Viktor Pysz, which saw a fanatic sell out crowd of over 3,000 people leave the Hala Widowiskowo Krynica Arena in an enthousiastic mood.

Poland will be looking to keep their engines going in their game against Romania tomorrow while Lithuania will try to recover from the thrashing in the afternoon game against Korea.

JOERI LOONEN

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