U20 World Championships Division 2 Group B – Day 5

South Korea vs Estonia 3-8

There was no doubt that this would be an intensive game, but heavy penalties tarnished this game. The first period was relatively close on paper, but the Korean goaltender was unable to fend off the Estonian attackers. Up 4-0 after one, it looked like another runaway victory in the making for Estonia. Taru and Gruznov got the scoring started for Estonia, then Rooba scored on the powerplay, and Missenjov got a shorthanded goal for Estonia.

In the second period, Korea picked up the past and got a couple of early goals from Park and Shin with the first coming on the powerplay. A couple of minutes later Russ scored and Rooba added his second for Estonia restoring the comfortable margin. Korea then took three straight penalties before Estonia took one for slashing. With barely a minute left in the period a slew of penalties and misconducts came. Shin was given a 5 minute major for charging, and a game misconduct, at the same time Ban for Korea and Terna for Estonia were each handed 2 minute roughing penalties. The Korean bench also received an unspecified minor as well as a 20 minute game misconduct. It is unclear what purpose giving a game misconduct to the team in general serves, unless one of the staff were ejected from the game. Early in the third on the ensuing powerplay Estonia scored again and 4 minutes in they got a goal from Kerna to put them up 8-2. Lee scored for Korea with 5 minutes left, but with the score 8-3, it was too little too late. After Kwon took a hooking penalty late in the period, Lee also took a 20 minute game misconduct for abuse of officials.

Rooba had 2 goals and 3 assists,  Kerna got a goal and 2 assists and Parras and Missenjov each had a goal and assist for Estonia. Gurtovoi was +15 in the face-off circle for Estonia.

Belgium vs Australia 3-5

Belgium was hoping to stave off elimination with a victory in this game, but with the loss they are the only team not to win a game in the tournament. McKenzie got Australia on the board first and a few minutes later Swinnen answered for Belgium. Neither team had any luck on the powerplay. In the second Humphries and Todd each had goals for Australia putting them up 3-1.  In the third, Belgium made things interesting when Swinnen, apparently the only player who can score for Belgium, scored his second and third goals giving himself a hat trick and tying up the game. With just under 3 minutes to go in the game though, Todd scored his second of the game and put Australia up 4-3. With 70 seconds to go, Belgium pulled the goalie to try and tie the game but as the clock ticked down and only 6 seconds remained, Australia’s Woodman found the empty net.

de Smet had 3 assists for Belgium. Todd had 2 goals, Humphries a goal and an assists while Newmark and Szalinksi each had 2 assists for Australia.

Serbia vs Iceland 7-1

The Serbia vs Iceland game proved to be a spirited affair. The first was filled with penalties as each side took five each. A boarding penalty by Sighvatsson lead to a heated exchange as Radosavljevic of Serbia and Gudmundsson of Iceland both received double roughing minors. With a few seconds left in the period, Serbia capitalized on a powerplay and Kerozovic gave them the lead. Another powerplay goal early in the second by Babic put them up 2-0 and would prove to be the game-winning goal. Filipovic scored a short time later for Serbia but Iceland finally got on the board as Leifsson scored for Iceland. Late in the second there were more roughing penalties handed out as Magnusson took one and Novakovic of Serbia took a double. On the powerplay though Iceland couldn’t keep it together and rather than draw close they gave up a short-handed goal to Plavsic. In the final minute Uzalec scored on the powerplay for Serbia. In the third Plavsic scored his second shorthanded and Kerezovic also added his second. The teams traded penalties, but Iceland was unable to generate anymore offense.

Plavsic had 2 goals and 2 assists and Zwick got 4 assists for Serbia.

Tournament Leaders

Lazarevic lead the tournament in face-off percentage at +51 with 74% efficiency. Shin of Korea was second at +12 winning 65%. The Estonians with their massive victories flooded the +/- rankings, however Yoon of South Korea broke into the top 10 with +10 good enough for 8^th place. Roobe of the Estonians locked up the lead in points with 21. Shin of Korea tied for 3^rd with Gruznov of Estonia with 15 points.

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