Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

Day 1 at the IIHF U20 World Champs

China vs Chinese Taipei

GAME 1, 16 JANUARY 2017 10:00AM, GROUP A

• Final Score: China 9 – Chinese Taipei 3
• Shots: China 53 – Chinese Taipei 17

Game one saw China dominate Chinese Taipei in a lopsided contest that saw China outshoot their opposition at a three to one ratio. The game started out tight with the teams trading early goals.

Rudi Ying opened the scoring at inside the first minute and Chinese Taipei answered to tie shortly after with a goal from Sung Yin Yu. From this point on, China took control of the game with 4 straight goals.

Chinese Taipei closed the gap to 5-2 with a goal by Wei Chiang.

The second period saw China extend their lead with two goals by Zemin Deng, both on special teams with a power play goal and a short handed goal.

In the 3rd period, Chinese Taipei cut into the lead with a power play goal by Wei Chiang, his second tally of the game. China then scored their third short-handed goal of the game tallied by Ou Li (Best Player).

Despite China spending 16 minutes in the bin compared to just four for Chinese Taipei, Chinese Taipei could not capitalize and China answered with strong penalty killing and netted three shorthanded goals.

China captain Rudi Ying scored a hat trick while the best player for China Wei Chaing netted two goals with three assists.

Bulgaria vs South Africa

GAME 2, 16 JANUARY 2017 1:30PM, GROUP B

• Final Score: Bulgaria 5 – South Africa 2
• Shots: Bulgaria 37 – South Africa 23

Game two was a tense struggle early on as Bulgaria pulled out to an early two goal lead. South Africa battled back with a goal on a five on three power play by Aidan Beukes.

The second period saw South Africa tie the score on a goal by Matthew Ruthven. Bulgaria pulled ahead on a power play goal by Daniel Dilkov.

Bulgaria extended their lead in the third period on a goal by Miroslav Vasilev (player of the game for Bulgaria). Bulgaria closed out the game on an empty net power play goal.

Best player for South Africa was defenceman John Venter.

Israel vs Iceland

GAME 3, 16 JANUARY 2017 5:00PM, GROUP A

• Final Score: Israel 0 – Iceland 3
• Shots: Israel 18 – Iceland 33

Game three was a tight battle early on between the 4th and 5th seeded teams. Iceland struck first five minutes into the game with a goal scored by Hjalti Johannsson.

Iceland extended their lead to 2-0 on a powerplay tally midway through the second period. The Iceland side extended their lead further just six seconds later on an equal strength goal by Axel Orongan.

Tight defence by the both squads limited the scoring chances in the third period.

Penalty minutes were eight per side in a cleanly played game.

Best players were Hjalti Johannsson for Iceland and Ori Kafri for Israel.

New Zealand vs Turkey

GAME 4, 16 JANUARY 2017 8:30PM, GROUP B

• Final Score: New Zealand 4 – Turkey 6
• Shots New Zealand 20 Turkey 31

Game four saw Turkey jump out to an early three goal lead behind the scoring punch of Hakan Salt. New Zealand tallied two goals in just over a minute to close the first period and open the second period to close the deficit to one. The New Zealand goals were scored by Taylor Rooney and Robin Vortanov.

In the third period, Turkey extended their lead to 6-2 on another goal by Hakan Salt. New Zealand cut the deficit to 6-4 on goals by Ben Harford and Robin Vortanov’s second goal of the night but could not battle all the way back.

Best players were for New Zealand was Mason Kennedy and for Turkey Emrah Savas.