Faded orange
Netherlands is back to Division II after an awful campaign
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