UAE successfully defend Gulf Cup

The 2012 GCC Gulf Ice Hockey Championships was played In Abu Dhabi from May 28-June 1 and aliigns, besides defending champion UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Barhein. Compared with last year first edition, played in Kuwait and won by UAE beating 41 the home side in the final,  the Saudi Arabia is the only missing team, replaced by debutant Barhein
The two IIHF affiliated teams dominated the competition, hammered the two amateur selection of Oman and Barhein, both in qualification round and semifinals. The direct match between UAE and Kuwait in the qualification round ends with a SO victory for the home side. Juma Al Dhaheri was the hero for the home side as he kept his cool to score the game-winning shot after nine players' attempt

In the final, Ali Al Haddad opened the scoring for the home side with 03:23 remaining of the first period, before Juma Al Dhaheri doubled the advantage midway through the second. Mohamed Al Doaij gave Kuwait hope going into the final third as he cut the deficit but after a physical period, Al Dhaheri made sure of the win with 02:07 of the game to go.

The victory ensured the UAE ended their season on a high and held on to the trophy they won last year.

In front of a fervent crowd at the Ice Rink in Zayed Sports City, the game began at a frenetic pace akin to the pair’s meeting in the round robin stage.
Kuwait suffered four penalties in the period, and it was not a surprise therefore when the UAE scored at a time when they had a man advantage. Al Haddad finishing off after Al Dhaheri had provided the assist.

The provider then turned scorer as the forward, who also doubled as president of the tournament’s organising committee, fired past Jasem Al Sraf after good work from the UAE’s Man of the Match, Omar Al Shamsi.

The final period was a tense affair, with the home side spending much of it camped inside the Kuwait half but unable to find a way past Al Sraf. That changed with a little over two minutes on the clock though as Mohamed Aref broke free down the right before his smash across goal was turned home again by Al Dhaheri.

UAE head coach Yuri Faikov was critical of his players after their shoot-out victory over the same opponents on Wednesday night. And while he was happy they were able to get their hands on the trophy but was left far from impressed with the way they had done it against a team he believes the UAE should be beating a lot more comfortably.

“From July to June is a very long season I guess; and the power, I didn’t see fire and ice,” he said. “There was a little bit better play. I am happy about the result but about the performance and quality of the game, 50-50.”

Faikov admitted his side suffered from nerves ahead of the game, but also took aim at the way the match was handled by officials, Jason Crown, Rayan Hornblower and James Prette.

“Everyone was a little bit nervous, scared to make mistakes,” he added. “Because of this it was not so good a game, and the referees also. The referees didn’t keep the game in their hands.”

The triumphant UAE players will now enjoy a break until after Ramadan, when they will start their preparations for the World Championship qualifiers.

May 28, 2012

Kuwait - Bahrain 13-2 (4-0, 4-1, 5-1)
1-0 Meshal Al Ajami
2-0 Ahmad Al Ajami
3-0 Salem Al Ajami
4-0 Yousef Al-Kandari
4-1 Mohammed Azzouz
5-1 Meshal Al Ajami
6-1 Mohammad Al-Duaij
7-1 Ahmad Al Ajami
8-1 Faisal Atallah
9-2 Slaman Sulatbeekh
10-2 Meshal Al Ajami
11-2 Salem Al Ajami
12-2 Abdul Aziz Al Shtai
13-2 Mohammed Al Shatti

United Arab Emirates - Oman 8-1 (4-0, 1-1, 3-0)
1-0 Suhail Al Meheiri
2-0 Mubarak Al Mazrouei
3-0 Faisal Al Baloushi
4-0 Suhail Al Meheiri
4-1 Ibrahim Al Ghabashi
5-1 Juma Al Dhaheri
6-1 Suhail Al Meheiri
7-1 Ali Al Mubarak Mazrouei
8-1 Juma Al Dhaheri

May 29, 2012

Kuwait -Oman 11-0 (4-0, 2-0, 5-0)
1-0 Mishal Al Ajami
2-0 Yousuf Al Kandri
3-0 Salem Al Ajami (Mishal Al Ajami)
4-0 Abdullah Al Zedan
5-0 Mishal Al Ajami
6-0 Ahmad Al Ajami (Mishal Al Ajami)
7-0 Mohammad Al Doaij
8-0 Mohammad Al Ajami (Mishal Al Ajami)
9-0 Mishal Al Ajami
10-0 Abdul Aziz Al Shtai
11-0 Salem Al Ajami

United Arab Emirates - Bahrain 16-0 (6-0, 3-0, 7-0)
1-0 Mohamad Al Shamsi
2-0 Saeed Al Naeimi
3-0 Ali Al Surour
4-0 Juma Al Dhaheri
5-0 Mohamad Al Shamsi
6-0 Saeed Al Naeimi
7-0 Ahmad Al Mazrouei
8-0 Omar Al Shamsi
9-0 Obaid Al Muharrami
10-0 Khalifa Al Mahrouki
11-0 Saeed Al Naeimi
12-0 Omar Al Shamsi
13-0 Saeed Al Naeimi
14-0 Saeed Al Naeimi
15-0 Omar Al Shamsi
16-0 Ali Al Haddad

May 30, 2012

Bahrain - Oman 5-10 (2-2, 3-6, 0-2)
0-1 Anad Al Bloushi
0-2 Anad Al Bloushi
1-2 Sameh Hijazi
2-2 Salman Al Thawadi
2-3 Khalid Al Bloushi
2-4 Ebrahim Al Dhaladari
2-5 Dawood Al Ghabishi
3-5 Sameh Hijazi
3-6 Ebrahim Al Ghabsh
3-7 Talal Al Bloushi
4-8 Sameh Hijazi
5-8 Salaman Sualilbeekh
5-9 Muath Al Siyabi
5-10 Ahmad Al Qatani

United Arab Emirates - Kuwait 3-2 SO (0-1, 2-2, 0-0, 0-0, 1-0)
0-1 Mishal Al Ajmai
0-2 Mishal Al Ajmai
1-2 Juma Al Dhaheri
2-2 Omar Al Shamsi
3-2 Juma Al Dhaheri SO


May 31, 2012

Semi- Finals

Kuwait - Oman 11-1 (5-1, 5-0, 1-0)
United Arab Emirates - Bahrain 12-0 (4-0, 5-0, 2-0)

June 1st, 2012

Bronze Medal Game
Oman - Bahrain 5-1

Gold Medal Game
United Arab Emirates - Kuwait 3-1 (1-0, 1-1, 1-0)
1-0 Ahmad Al Mazrouei
1-1 Mohammad Al Doaij
2-1 Juma Al Dhaheri
3-1 Juma Al Dhaheri

 

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