Faded orange

Five games, five defeats; 38 goals suffered: the suffering for Netherlands is finally over: with the last defeat against Estonia the feeble hope to avoid a predictable relegation is over and Dutch team is back to Division two after just a season: short of key players – all the international of Tilburg Trappers played Oberliga playoffs in the days of World Championship – the team tried to earn vital points during the whole tournament but the difference on ice was blatant, until the last attempt against Estonia, revitalized by the key victory against Croatia, a guarantee of an almost certain stay in Division Ib. Two years ago in Eindhoven, same Estonia won 3-1 a dramatic last game against Netherlands sending Oranje in the hell of division II escaping a relegation almost certain as newly promoted team. Today the duel was less tense for the different position in the standing and the different strength on the ice. Estonia has Vadim Vasjonkin suspended after the major penalty received in the game versus Croatia, while Netherlands, that have to win for three goals difference to survive, can’t count on forward Donny Vanmusscher injured.

Netherlands hopes raise up at 15:12 when Gus Van Nes nets the first goal finishing a pass from Nardo Nagtzaam and becomes real one minute after with the 2-0 marked by Jeffrey Melissant before to suffer a punch when Robert Rooba takes a rebound after an Aleksandr Ossipov shot opening the score for his team on powerplay. A quiet second period is revived at 28:40 when Dutch captain Kevin Bruijsten notches his first goal tapping in an imprecise rebound by Koitmaa. Netherlands now raise up pressure looking for the goal that means avoid relegation, has two good chances, both with Max Hermens blocked by Koitmaa, but suffers the second goal, scored again by Rooba on power play with a precise shot. The Estonian comeback is completed in the third period with the tie goal of Aleksandr Petrov, assisted by Makrov, culmination of a superiority in the previous minutes and the overtaking materialized at 53:38 with the hattrick of Rooba receving in the right angle from Artjom Gornostajev. A power play at the end of period forced Netherlands to pull the goalie only in the last minute, not enough to realize a miracle.

The brawl after the end of the game

Netherlands is back in Division II with a brawl in the end that doesn’t leave a good memory

MVP: Gus Van Nes – Robert Rooba

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