Fischtown Bremerhaven and Belfast earn first point

After the Belfast Giants 4-1 victory over Tilburg Trappers in the afternoon, host Fischtown Penguins Bremerhaven take the ice in an arena with many empty seats to face CSKA Sofia. Bulgarian team won the preliminary group at home last month and travelled to Germany with a roster where Slovak and Russian are the languages spoken. In a controversial move, on the even of trip to Germany CSKA signed 5 Russian players, included veterans Oleg Kvasha and Vladimir Antipov. Penguins opened the score after 46 seconds on power play with Jaroslav Hafenrichter and generally controlled the game in the first period. CSKA had a great chance at 12 when a naïve mistake by home defense puts Dmitry Vlasenkov face-to-face with Jonas Langmann, but the goalie blocked with the pad. On the other side, Russian Sergei Klimentiev has much more work but Fischtown attack is very inaccurate, even on powerplay. Bulgarian team shows the advanced age of almost the entire roster and probably the lack of habit to play together. One of few Bulgarian player, Georgi Iskrenov, a product of Iowa State University, son of a famous Bulgarian footballer player, showed a good technique and a fast skating, but is relegated to fourth line without a decent ice-time. Second period follows the same pattern as the first: Bremerhaven controlling the game and constantly playing in CSKA defensive zone but without a real big chance, while Vladimir Antipov wastes a good chance after another defensive mistake shooting over the bar. At 27:56 finally a good counter-attack by Fischtown is finalized by Brendan Cook for deserved 2-0. Same Cook has a good chances a couple of minutes after but Klimentyev rebounds. Host increases the pressure, Kloepper misses the deflection on a good pass. With two minutes to go in the second period CSKA reduced the gap with Anders Johnsson, finalizing an assist by Miroslav Holubek. Last period opens with a spectacular dive by Klimentyev on a insidious shot by Kloepper. At 42:59 the most beautiful goal of the night: a solo by Viktor Beck entering in the defensive zone and finalizing with a classy move. Oleg Kvasha show glimpses of his talent but Langmann blocked, while Brendan Cook scored the fourth goal with an angled shot knocking on the post before to beat Klimentyev. Make matters worse for CSKA with Dusicka and Boyko in the sinbin Brendan Cook again finds the net in a magical night for the Canadian forward. After the fifth goal also CSKA gains a 5vs3 situation but Bulgarian Power play is not so lethal and home side survives before to definitely close the match when returns at full strength with Marjan Deidar. CSKA scored its second goal with Antipov on power play for 6-2 final score, before a bad moment: Boyko hits Kloepper on the face with the sticks causing a brawl and gaining a 4 minutes penalty. On the next power play Klimentyev is very reactive on Dejdar and Teljukin, deserving the title of best player for his team; of course Brendon Cook, acclaimed by fans, is Bremerhaven MVP.

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