Suicide on ice
12 Jan 2014 | Davide Tuniz
Donbas sensationally lost against Rouen and handed the cup to Stavanger
Don't ever mention Rouen to the fans of Donbas! Two years ago Ukranian team incredibly lost last game agaist Rouen giving the Cup to Dragons, this year a simple victory in regular time or even at overtime was enough to keep the silver plate in Donets'k. To make things easier, Rouen was already eliminated after two defeats in previous matches. With the arena sold out for the third consecutive night, Donbas is master of his own destiny: at 13 in the first period Evgeny Dadonov scores 1-0 and everything seems to be going according to script. But the pride of Dragons once again plays a dirty trick to Ukranian: captain Marc Andrè Thinel ties game in the second period. But fireworks (and the nightmare for Ukranian fans) explode in the last twenty minutes: Donbas twice is back leading the game: at 48:31 with Tuomas Kiskinen and at 55:18 with Clay Wilson, but Dragons have the strength to rise from the bottom of the well: key players Marc Andrè Thinel and Julian Desrosiers twice tie game. Overtime is scoreless and Donbas has the last chance at shoot-outs but none is able to beat Fabrice Lhenry. at the second round of shoots, Anthony Rech, the hero of Coupe de la Ligue victory two weeks ago, scores to give Rouen first points in the competition pulling out the plate from Donbas trophy room. Double celebration in the stands: French and Norwegian fans celebrate another miracle on Ile Lacroix ice.
MVP: Michael Leighton - Marc Andrè Thinel
Tournament Best Players selected by the Directorate:
Best goalie: Ruben Smith - Stavanger Oilers
Best Defender: Clay Wilson - Donbas Donets'k
Best Forward: Chris DiDomenico - Asiago Hockey