Euro Challenge Tournament Slovenia

A Euro Challenge Tournament took place between December 15^th and December 17^th in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Norway, France, Slovenia and Russia2 were participants. There’s obviously a new policy in Slovenian Hockey Federation, as home team played with weaker opponents during previous years. The home team took the tournament as preparation for trying to return to the top level of world’s hockey; Slovenia organizes the Division1 World Championship tournament between April 15^th and April 21th in Ljubljana.
The first day included games between Russia2 and France, plus Slovenia vs Norway.

Russia2 – France  4:2 (1:0,1:0,2:2)

Russia2: Murygin, Sudnitski; Lyamin, Alexandrov, Golubev, Nikulin, Dugin; Jakovlev, Kiselevich, Glinkin, Popov, Trunev; Yegorshev, Chudinov, Ketov, Plotnikov, Burdasov; Belov, Pivtsakin, Panarin, Anisin, Karpov

France: Quemener, Buysee; Amar, Dusseau, Albert, Arrossamena, Avenel; Janil, Hecquefeville, Beron, Claireaux, Besson; Moisand, Custosse, Dufornet, Gaborit, Guttig; Trabichet, Henderson, Lamperier, Romand, Tarantino

The opening game of the tournament was controlled by the Russians. They scored one goal during both - first and second period, and missed several good chances to beat the French goalkeeper. The teams were a bit more equal during the last period – it finished 2:2. There were only 50 spectators in Tivoli ice hall, but they enjoyed a nice game. Yevgeni Ketov for Russia and Ronan Quemener for France were voted the best players.

Slovenia – Norway  4:1 (1:1,2:0,1:0)

Slovenia: Hočevar A. Kristan; Robar, Gregorc, Jeglič, Tičar, Sabolič; Dervarič, Kovačevič, Rodman, Mušič, Pance E.; Selan, Kužnik, Razingar, Terglav, Šivic; Erman, Tavželj, Brus, Hočevar M., Pance Ž.

Norway: Haugen, Grotnes; Rindal, Kaunismäki, Olsen, Huse, Roest; Hools, Odegaard, Lorentzen, Kristiansen, Winkler; Espeland, Svem, Ask, Roymark, Martinsen; Solberg, Froshaug, Roste Fossen, Oppoyen, Lovlie

Another disappointing crowd gathered for the evening game between the home team and Norway. 1000 spectators saw the home side win. Sabahudin Kovacevic opened the scoring in the 48^th second already. Norway equalized in the 15^th minute power play. Norway was first to threat in the second period as they hit the post. The game itself wasn’t so fluent and both teams were quite nervous. Slovenia scored on two power play situations and there were some unnecessary fist-fights on the ice as well. The last period was controlled by Slovenians. They hit the empty net in 59^th minute when Norway played with six skaters and no goalie in a desperate try to return into the game. Robert Sabolič for Slovenia and Niklas Roest were voted the best players of the game.

Day 2, December 16^th

France – Norway 3:1 (0:0,1:0,2:1)

France: Qemener, Buysee; Amar, Dussea, Albert, Arrossamena, Avenel; Janil, Hecquefeville, Beron, Claireaux, Besson; Moisand, Custosse, Dufournet, Gaborit, Guttig; Trabichet, Henderson, Lamperier, Romand, Tarantino

Norway: Grotnes, Haugen; Rindal, Kaunismäki, Olsen, Huse, Roest; Hools, Odegaard, Lorentzen, Kristiansen, Winkler; Sveum, Solberg, Ask, Roymark, Martinsen; Froshaug, Roste Fossen, Oppoyen, Lovlie

100 fans saw the game between teams that lost their games on first day of tournament. The first period wasn’t any excitement for the spectators. The French players then managed to score shortly before second intermission. Norway leveled the score in the 44^th minute only to let France score twice inside 48 seconds of 47^th and 48^th minute. Final pressure from Norway did not change anything and France won 3:1. Kevin Hecquefeville for France and Jonas Holøs for Norway were voted best players of the game.

Slovenia – Russia2  3:2 (1:0,1:2,1:0)

Slovenia: Kristan, Krošelj; Gregorc, Robar, Sabolič, Jeglič, Hebar; Dervarič, Pavlin, Razingar, Mušič, Rodman; Kužnik, Selan, Pance Ž., Terglav, Pance E.; Tavželj, Erman, Dolinšek, Hočevar, Brus

Russia2: Sudnitski, Murygin; Lyamin, Alexandrov, Golubev, Nikulin, Dugin; Glinkin, Popov, Trunev, Ketov, Jakovlev; Kiselevich, Yegorshev, Plotnikov, Burdasov, Panarin; Belov, Pivtsakin, Anisin, Karpov

Russians were strong favourites to win the evening game. Some 2200 fans gathered in Tivoli ice hall and they were delighted with what they saw. The Russians in fact started the game with determinacy, some minor goal scoring chances occurred during first minutes. Robert Kristan, Slovenia’s star goalie (who, by the way was voted eurohockey.com player of November) managed to stop every single shot. His fellow team mates started to feel more confident after sixth minute and they managed to score in 10^th minute power play. Slovenians were surprisingly the better side until the end of first period. They doubled the lead in the 22^nd minute (2:0), but Russians leveled the score inside 58 seconds of the 25^th and 26^th minute. Russians gathered 12 penalty minutes in second period, Slovenians none. Although home team was in control of puck, the result didn’t change. Andrej Hebar scored the leading goal for Slovenia in the 45^th minute (3:2). Kristan was in great form during the next minutes, saving the home team on several dangerous occasions. Final pressure from Russians wasn’t effective and Slovenia won the game surprisingly, but very well deserved! Žiga Jeglič was voted the best player for Slovenia, Alexander Sudnitski for Russia.

Day 3, December 17^th

Russia2 – Norway  4:1 (3:0,1:0,0:1)

Russia2: Murygin, Sudnitski; Lyamin, Alexandrov, Golubev, Nikulin, Dugin; Glinkin, Popov, Trunev, Ketov, Jakovlev; Kiselevich, Yegorshev, Plotnikov, Burdasov, Panarin; Belov, Pivtsakin, Anisin, Karpov

Norway: Haugen, Grotnes; Rindal, Kaunismäki, Olsen, Huse, Roest; Hools, Odegaard, Lorentzen, Kristiansen, Winkler; Sveum, Solberg, Ask, Roymark, Martinsen; Froshaug, Roste Fossen, Oppoyen, Lovlie

Russians controlled the game and won without any serious problems. Norway players were too nervous during the first period and the Russians managed to score on two PP opportunities in addition to the leading goal in first period. They added a fourth goal in the38^th minute and the winner of the game was decided. Norway managed to score a consolation goal in third period, but finished the tournament on the last place with three defeats. Lars Haugen for Norway and Anton Belov for Russia2 were voted the best players of the game.

Slovenia – France 4:5 (2:2,1:1,1:1,0:0,0:1) p.s.

Slovenia: Krošelj, Hočevar A.; Gregorc, Robar, Sabolič, Jeglič, Hebar; Dervarič, Pavlin, Šivic, Mušič, Rodman; Kužnik, Selan, Pance Ž., Terglav, Pance E.; Tavželj, Erman, Dolinšek, Hočevar M., Brus

France: Qemener, Buysee; Amar, Dussea, Albert, Arrossamena, Avenel; Janil, Hecquefeville, Beron, Claireaux, Besson; Moisand, Custosse, Dufournet, Gaborit, Guttig; Trabichet, Henderson, Lamperier, Romand, Tarantino

1200 fans gathered to see the final home team game of the tournament. Slovenians were determined to win the game – it would bring them first place on tournament. France on the other hand opened the scoring in the 7^th minute, but Slovenians answered in style after 39 seconds. Jure Dolinšek scored his second of the night to put Slovenia in the lead in 11^th minute. Many good goal scoring opportunities were missed by Slovenians in following minutes and France managed to level the score in 19^th minute. The picture was quite equal during the second period. Leading goal and missed opportunities for Slovenia resulted in an equalizer by France in 37^th minute and the game remained open for the third period. Another leading goal, only this time shorthanded was scored by the Slovenians in the 43^rd minute. French players equalized once more time in the 52^nd minute. The crowd saw pressure from the home team during the next few minutes, but the nets remained empty. That stands for over time as well. Hebar was successful for Slovenia in the penalty shooting, Beron and Henderson for France. Brian Henderson was also voted the best player of the game for France, David Rodman was exactly the same for Slovenia.

Final standings:

David Rodman (Slovenia) was voted MVP of tournament, Robert Kristan (Slovenia) was the best goal-keeper.

Summary: The tournament was very successful for the Slovenian team. A surprising win against young Russians gave them necessary boost and bigger self confidence for the upcoming games. The Russians though managed to show some good hockey. They were technically better than the other teams and surely learned much in Ljubljana. France was quite strong and a bit miss fortuned; those results from Ljubljana are good foundations for work during next months. Norway presented themselves as a team with strong determinacy, but lack of focus and sometimes skills; they are capable of better performances in the future.

A quite big disappointment is the very poor attendance of fans. That’s something Slovenian Ice-hockey Federation has to concern about during the next few months: things have to be done for commercial presentation of the Division1 Championship in April 2012.

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