WJC Div 2B: Romania up, Mexico down
16 Dec 2011 | Henrik Lundqvist
Romania had secured the tournament win and the promotion to Division IIA after four games of five. Australia avoids relegation thanks to a 4-1 win against Mexico.
Romania's last game against Belgium had no importance for the outcome of the tournament. Romania would win the division and Belgium end up fourth no matter the result. And just like in all earlier games it was a secure win for Romania who clearly was too good for this division. The final score was 6-2.
Romania started the tournament with an 8-2 win against the host Estonia. The first two periods were close, but Romania won the third 5-0. Matyas Biro scored 5 (1+4) points in this game and Roberto Gliga 4 (1+3). In the second game Romania beat Australia 11-1 and Roberto Gliga scored 4 goals. Mexico was also a piece of cake – 10-1.
In the fourth game a win against Serbia would be enough to secure the championship and also this game was no contest. Romania won 9-3. Matyas Biro scored 3 goals. Roberto Gliga and Zsombor Molnar 2. The duo Biro and Gliga both scored impressive 8 goals and 9 assists in the tournament but the scoring title went to an Estonian. Robert Rooba managed to collect 13 goals and 6 assists for a total of 19 points. His team-mate Artjom Gornostajev also reached 19 points thanks to 6 goals and 13 assists.
In the last game of the tournament Estonia played Serbia about the second place and the host showed no mercy in Arena Premia. The score was 4-0 after one period. 10-1 after two and the final score was 12-3.
After the painful 8-2 loss to Romania on the opening day Estonia got easy wins in the remaining games; 7-2 against Belgium, 12-1 against Australia, 18-0 against Mexico and finally 12-3 against Serbia.
Serbia started the tournament with a perfect record after wins against Australia, Mexico and Belgium, but both Romania and Estonia proved to be way too good.
Australia avoids relegation thanks to a 4-1 win against Mexico on the last day. Up till then Austria had lost all four games while Mexico had gained one point, to this game would decide which team got relegated. Alejandro Raja gave Mexico the lead in the first period and Jordan Kyros tied it for Australia in the second. At 42:34 Austin McKenzie made it 2-1 Australia before Kyros scored another two goals to secure the essential win.
Jordan Kyros was definitely Australia’s key player in this tournament. Kyros, who plays junior hockey in Finland, scored 7 of Australia’s 12 goals.
For Mexico the tournament started promising. In the opening game they had the lead against Belgium for a long time, but Lorenzo Maas tied it in the third period and Belgium then won in the shootout.
Mexico only managed to score five goals in the five games. Diego Romero, Ruben Cuevas, Miguel Colas, Carlos Gomez and Alejandro Raya were the successful ones. Next season Mexico will play in Division III.
The tournaments directorate named Roberto Gliga Best Forward of the tournament. Ken Kuusk of Estonia had a tournament leading +17 rating and was named Best Defenseman. Serbia’s Jovan Feher was named Best Goalkeeper.
All games are found
here.
Player stats are found
here.
GROUP: Div. IIB in Estonia