WJC Div 2 A: Ukraine promoted after overtime drama

19 Dec 2011 | Fredrik Pålsson

On home ice in Donetsk Ukraine won the World Junior Championship Division 2 Group A after beating Lithaunia in overtime in the final game.

Ukraine started the tournament slow, needed a penalty shootout to beat Korea that finished in last place. But after 7-6 against Hungary the team won easily against Spain and Netherlands leaving them with an all decisive game against Lithuania in the last game. Lithuania that started by losing to Hungary after shootout then had three straight wins.

In the final game Ukraine outshot Lithuania 44-21 but still needed overtime to secure the title and the promotion to Division 1 Group B next year. Lithuania had the lead 2-1 in the second period but Romashenko tied the game and with only two seconds left to play of the overtime Pavlo Padakin scored the game winner for Ukraine.

Ukraine finished the group on 13 points, two points ahead of Lithuania. Hungary finished third and Spain fourth. The Netherlands defeated Korea 3-2 after penalty shootout to avoid relegation. Korea is relegated to Division 2 Group B and will be replaced Romania.

Lithuania's Mantas Armalis was selected the best goalkeeper of the tournament while Ukraine's Valentin Sirchenko and Viktor Zakharov was selected best defender and forward. Zakharov was also the top scorer with 9 points together with Attila Nemeth of Hungary.