Olympic Qualification - Day 1

07 Feb 2013 | Dennis Mende

There are three groups in the last qualification round for the Men's tournament at the Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi and only their winners make it to the most important ice hockey event. On Thursday the host countries gained convincing wins.

Group D (Germany):

Austria - Italy 3:2

In this match it was clear for both sides that only a three-point win could keep their chances for a Olympic qualification alive. In front of 3,100 spectators in Bietigheim-Bissingen it was Daniel Oberkofler who brought Austria in front with a deflected shot already at 06:01 before Gregor Baumgartner used a rebound to double the lead for his team at the end of the period. In a rather low-level game Anton Bernard used a power play to get Italy on the scoreboard for the first time but again Daniel Oberkofler earned the two-goal lead back for Austria. With less than 10 minutes left in regulation Vincent Rocco brought tension back into the match but Italy couldn't force the equalizer anymore and now has only very limited options to make it to the Olympics anymore.

Germany - Netherlands 5:1

For Germany it was the expected clear result against group outsiders Netherlands but they couldn't convince completely. With a double in the middle of the first period Alexander Barta and David Wolf pathed the way for the home win. Around "half time" Marcel Kars cut the lead with a power play strike but at the end of the middle period again Alexander Barta restored the two-goal lead. The 3,780 fans saw how home side Germany added another two goals in power play in the last 20 minutes through Michael Wolf and Moritz Müller.

Group E (Latvia):

France - Kazakhstan 2:3

Roman Starchenko and Konstantin Romanov brought Kazakhstan in front in this outsider duel during the first period. At 32:17 Sacha Treille cut the lead for France but only two minutes later Talgat Zhailauov scored the game winner for the Asians. With a late goal Baptiste Amar brought France back into fighting distance at 57:42 but it was too late for a reaction.

Latvia - Great Britain 6:2

Hosts Latvia made it clear against the big underdogs Great Britain who are the favourites for the Olympic Qualification in Group E. With many KHL stars in their roster the Latvians earned a 2-1 lead after the first period through goals by Gints Meija and Miks Indrasis while Robert Dowd scored the fast equalizer in between. Around "half time" Oskars Bartulis used a power play to get the two-goal lead back for the Latvians before they went on with goals by Ronalds Kenins and Georgijs Pujacs for a clear 5-1. In a 5 on 3 power play Craig Peacock scored another one for the Britains before Lauris Darzins.also used a two-men advantage for the final score of 6-2.

Group F (Denmark):

Belarus - Slovenia 2:4

Slovenia earned the only real surprise of the day by defeating favourites Belarus in regulation. At 16:30 Jan Urbas opened the score for Slovenia in power play before Robert Sabolic used another men advantage to double the lead at the start of the middle period. A double within one minute around "half time" through Alexander Kulakov and Andrei Stepanov tied the match for Belarus but Tomaz Razingar and David Rodman madev erything clear for Slovenia in the last 20 minutes.

Denmark - Ukraine 2:0

Frederik Storm (16th) and Morten Green (25th) were the goal scorers for tournament hosts Denmark against outsiders Ukraine. Danish goalie Frederik Andersen made 22 saves and earned a shutout.

The following qualification matches are going to be held on February 9 and 10.