Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

Day 2 at the IIHF U20 World Champs

Israel vs Chinese Taipei

Game 5, 17 January 2017 10:00am, Group A

• Final Score: Israel 3 – Chinese Taipei 0
• Shots: Israel 37 – Chinese Taipei 26

Game five started out with a scoreless first period with even play and 10 shots on goal for each team. Both goalies were stand-outs throughout the game.

Daniel Merkulov started the scoring in the second period and Daniel Levin raised the lead for Israel to two goals to one.
Israeli’s goalie Raz Werner played well throughout the game and shut down the Chinese Taipei offensive efforts throughout the game.

Israel extended the lead to 3 goals on a power play tally by Ariel Kapulkin.

Both best players for the game were the goalies, Raz Werner for Israel and Sheng-Chun Huang for Chinese Taipei.

Turkey vs Bulgaria

Game 6, 17 January 2017 1:30pm, Group B

• Final Score: Turkey 8 – Bulgaria 1
• Shots: Turkey 54 – Bulgaria 18

Game six pitted the two Group B leaders Bulgaria and Turkey against each other to decide the leader in the grouping.

Turkey jumped out to an early lead with superior skating, passing and puck control. Sefa Kavas started out the scoring with an even strength goal and Turkey extended the lead on a power play goal by Sait Bingol. The stout Turkey defense held Bulgaria to zero shots on net in the first period.

Ferhat Bakal scored a nifty short handed goal off of an intercepted pass to extend the Turkish lead to 3-0. Hakan Salt continued his hot streak with his fifth goal of the tournament to make the lead 4-0 to Turkey.

The third period was lopsided in favour of Turkey with four goals scored, three on the powerplay. Bulgaria prevented the shut-out with a late goal by Ivelin Ivanov.

The best players for the game were Sefa Kavaz (three goals and one assist) for Turkey and Yomislav Georgiev for Bulgaria.

Iceland vs China

Game 7, 17 January 2017 5:00pm, Group A

• Final Score: Iceland 1 – China 4
• Shots: Iceland 28 – China 35

Game seven matched up the two top Group A teams China and Iceland, and this game did not disappoint.

Iceland jumped out to an early lead on a goal by Edmunds Induss. China evened the score on a goal by Yingfen Gao. Tight defense, fast and agile skating and pinpoint passing marked an exciting but scoreless second period.

China took the lead on a goal by Ou Li. Iceland battled hard to try to get back in the game, but the tight China defense in the neutral zone stopped many of Iceland’s attempt to mount a sustained offensive.

China finished off their impressive win with a late power play goal and a fourth goal shortly thereafter. The fans were treated to an excellent game between two teams would appear will be in the hunt for the gold medal.

The best players for the game were Gunnar Arason for Iceland and Rudi Ying for China.

New Zealand vs South Africa

Game 8, 17 January  2017 8:30pm, Group B

• Final Score: New Zealand 3 – South Africa 2
• Shots: New Zealand 41 – South Africa 19

Game eight saw traditional rivals New Zealand and South Africa face-off in the night-cap game. New Zealand opened the scoring with a goal from Robin Vortanov 52 seconds into the game. Taylor Rooney tallied a goal five minutes later to extend the New Zealand lead.

South Africa battled back to knot the score later in the first period with a nice goal from Gareth Bremner and a goal by Marinus de Jager.

The second period was scoreless despite a 16-4 shot differential in favour of New Zealand.

The third period was exciting and the partisan crowd enjoyed the sustained pressure and numerous good scoring chances for the home side. Robin Vortanov of New Zealand lit the lamp with 3:48 left in the game to lift the home side to victory to the delight of the home fans.

The best players for the game were Vortanov for New Zealand (2 goals) and goaltender Ryan Boyd for South Africa.