U20 World Championship Division 2 Group B – Day 3

South Korea vs Australia 5-1

Australia’s outing against Korea wasn’t all bad. They had a decent second period scoring the only goal and nearly equaling Korea in shots. This was no doubt in part to Korea taking 3 penalties in the period. However, Korea continued to get strong offensive support from Shin and park in the first period. In the third period Yoon, Lee and Yu all added goals.

Sang-hoon Shin and Sang-won Yoon each had a goal and assist in the game. After three games they are both 5^th overall in points and 4^th in goals with 4 goals and 4 assists each. Sam Cook had the lone powerplay goal for Australia. Humphries and Long both went -7 in the face-off circle for Australia.

Estonia vs Iceland 12-1

Estonia clearly made themselves the team to beat after their third game. Rolling over Iceland with the huge goal differential makes the tournament all about them and Korea. Korea will need to beat them on the final day if they hope to get promoted back to Division II A. Last year Estonia also won big, winning 4 of their 5 games with 3 of them by huge goal differentials. Iceland’s loan goal came in the first from Siguradson. The game remained fairly close until the third period. Up 5-1, Estonia suddenly exploded for 7 goals in the third sending the Icelandic goalkeeper scurrying mid-way through the third period. Gruznov had 3 goals, Rooba and Gornostajev each had 2 goals and 2 assists, Missenjov got 2 goals, and Russ had a goal and 2 assists for Estonia. Rooba was also an impressive +13 on the face-off circle. Estonia outshot Iceland 60-11.

Ljuboratets had one assist in the game and it is unclear why he was allowed to be on the ice. After two dangerous hits in a single game, it would seem if the IIHF was serious about protecting players he would be the poster child for a suspension. The IIHF had not returned a request for comment at the time of publication.

Serbia vs Belgium 7-4

The Serbian team fended off relegation by defeating Belgium 7-4. Belgium is unlikely to beat Estonia in their next game, and if Serbia can beat Australia on Thursday, the team being relegated will be down to the Belgium/Australia game on Friday. Despite heavily outshooting Belgium 19-7 in the first period, with a powerplay goal from Neven, the period ended in 1-1 tie on the late goal from Plavsic. Belgium regained the lead in the second on a goal from Swinnen, but a minute later Bjelogrlic tied it up for Serbia. After that it was all Serbia. They got three more goals in the period from Zwick, Babic and Plavsic added his second of the game. Up 5-2 the third period saw some heavy penalties, including a 5 minute major and 20 minute game misconduct to Novakovic of Serbia for kneeing. Zwick scored his second for Serbia going up 6-2 and then Swinnin scored 2 straight goals to make it 6-4. Belgium decided to pull the goaltender, but only 6 seconds after doing so Babic scored his second on the empty net for Serbia making it 7-4.

Plavsic had 2 goals and 2 assists, Zwick got 2 goals and an assist, Babic had his 2 goals and Podunavac and Filipovic each had 2 assists for Serbia. Lazarevic was +8 for Serbia in the face-off circle. Swinnin had 3 goals and an assist, van Egdom and de Smet each had 2 assists for Belgium.

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