Features

World Championships 2007 Day One

Saturday, 28th April 2007

Jim 'Tambo' Piper gives us his views on the first day of action from the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships.

USA 6 AUSTRIA 2

This year’s competition opened with the USA taking on newly promoted Austria.

Both teams were looking for a good start to the championships with Austria hoping for a shock 3 points in their bid to retain Elite status.

The Americans blasted out of the traps and youngster Phil Kessel scored with less than two minutes on the clock. Kessel picked up a loose puck behind the net and fired a quick shot over Divis’ glove-side. Half way through the first stanza, USA doubled their lead when the puck bounced off the skate of Toby Peterson and found its way through the five-hole. The Austrian’s then squandered two 5 on 3 situations before edging their way back into the game with a goal from Raimund Divis who scored open side after superb work from David Schuller. It was not long before the Americans regained their 2 goal lead on a 5 on 3 of their own. Captain Eric Cole found Lee Stempniak, who one timed past the stationary Divis.

Another blitz start to a period saw USA take a 4-1 lead with only 23 seconds of the second period gone. Chris Clark getting the goal. Austria again pulled a goal back when Oliver Setzinger hit a speculative shot past Grahame in the USA goal for 4-2. The remainder of the second period was fairly even handed and it finished with no further additions to the scoreboard.

Any chance of an Austrian comeback were dashed just 14 seconds into the third period when Brian Pothier passed to Eric Cole who beat Divis on his stick side for a 5-2 lead. Brandon Bochenski wrapped up the scoring mid way through the period and the USA ran out comfortable 6-2 winners.

USA performed adequately against an Austrian side who will struggle to remain in the top group come the end of the competition.

UKRAINE 0 FINLAND 5

The competition’s second afternoon game saw last years beaten finalist Finland, take on Ukraine,

The first period was disjointed as referee Minar called 5 minor penalties in the first 6 minutes alone, however, the go ahead goal for Finland came even handed on 12:07 when D man Saravo came in from the point, taking a pass from Peltonen and wrested a shot past Karpenko. There was no further scoring in the period and Finland lead 1-0.

The Finns eased the nerves of their noisy, caveman attired fans on 24:06 as Tomi Kallio found Bergenheim all alone in front of Karpenko and neatly shot past the blocker for 2-0. Three minutes later and the game was all but over when the evergreen Petteri Nummelin wrested a screened shot past the unsighted Ukrainian goalie. A remarkable goal for a remarkable man, playing in his 13 consecutive World Championships. Constant pressure by Finland resulted in penalty trouble for the Ukrainians and at one time there were no fewer than 5 of them in the penalty box. Parssinen backhanded a rebound during one of the many powerplays on 13:08 to make the score 4-0 . End of the 2nd and the Finns were cruising 4-0.

Not a lot to write about in a chippy 3rd apart from a superb shorthanded breakaway goal by Kontiola on 51:28 to end the scoring.

A comfortable 5-0 for Finnland as they start their campaign to go one better than last year.

BELARUS 2 CZECH REPUBLIC 8

The first of the evening games saw the strong Czech Republic take on last year’s surprise team Belarus.

Early play was fairly even and a kick save by Roman Chechmanek prevented a shock goal from Belarus. It was the Czech’s who took the lead on the powerplay after 7:57 when Hlinka tapped home a rebound after Mezin saved from Petr Sykora. Just over 2 minutes later, again on the power play, David Vyborny scored high on the stick side of Mezin. On 16:18, Belarus briefly showed a bit of metal and Antonenko scored when he powered a shot between two defenders and past Cechmanek. This was only a short piece of defiance as 13 seconds later Plekanec scuffed the puck past the shell shocked Mezin for 3-1. With 18:41 on the clock Olesz finished the game as a contest with a neat goal.

The second period was a quiet affair as the Czechs dominated without really extending themselves. Both teams traded goals in the 27th minute when firstly Petr Sykora made it 5-1 and Antonenko scored his second of the night for Belarus.

The far superior Czech side hit three more goals in the third period as they completely dominated a plucky Belarus side.Goals from Plekanec ( his second) , Marek and Irgl all got their name on a scoresheet with 7 different Czech marksmen on it. A resounding victory and a great start for one of the tournament favourites.

RUSSIA 9 DENMARK 1

The final game of the day was between home favourites Russia and Denmark.

Many thought the Danes would be cannon fodder for the red juggernaut, and this proved the case as the all powerful hosts took a 3 goal lead with only 3:52 on the clock. It took only 28 seconds for first blood to be drawn when Zaripov deflected a pass from Zinoviev off his skate and into the goal. A long protest ensued from the Danes, but after a video review, the goal stood. 3:28 gone and 2-0 to Russia when Nikulin shot from the high slot over Peter Hirsch’s shoulder. 24 seconds later and the game was over as a contest when Boedker misdirected a Malkin pass into his own net. Surprisingly, a time out by the Danish coach seemed to steady the ship and after a fairly even bout of play, the Danes pulled a goal back through Peter Regin on 17:20. That was it for the first and the impressive Russians lead 3-1.

It took only 2 minutes 24 seconds for Russia to restore their 3 goal lead when Atyushov found Schastlivy with a well hit long pass and the captain scored easily past a demoralised Peter Hirsch . Three minutes later Markov finished off a beautiful tic-tac-toe play for a 5-1 scoreline. Morozov made it 6-1 on 27:20 and when Kulemin pushed home a loose puck past the Danish goalie the crowd were in party mood. When superstar Alexander Ovechikin scored for 8-1, Peter Hirsch had had enough and backup Michael Madsen took over. The period ended with no further scoring.

Russia continued their dominance in the third , but Madsen in the Danish goal was performing miracles as he saved 13 of 14 shots on his goal. He was only beaten by a rebound goal from Frolov on 55:43.

A resounding solid performance by Russia who had 45 shots on goal and 0 penalty minutes. Denmark can take heart from the solid performance of back up goalie Madsen, but are in for a fraught 3 weeks of hockey.

That’s the first day and an amazing 33 goals in 4 games. All bodes well for the rest of the competition. More tomorrow!

Tambo