U20 Div 1A, Day 5: Kazakhstan takes the bronze, silver for Austria

The contest between Germany and the Scandinavians was a crucial one to determine the bronze medalist. The 820 fans in attendance saw a rather defensive minded game in the first period. In the middle frame it was Germany to take control, outshooting Norway 13-4.

Especially Tobias Eder and Jakob Mayenschein became a danger for the Norwegian net, minded by Fredrik Gronstrand. In the 27^th minute, the Germans found the lead thanks to Christoph Korner. Manuel Wiederer and Julian Napravnik, both with perfect wrist shots form the slot, increased the lead to 3-0.

Norway did not give up though and found its first goal in the 46^th minute. Anders Guliksen saw Henrik Knold alone in front of the chanceless German goalkeeper Daniel Friesinger. In the 50^th minute Germany made the same mistake again and Knold capitalized again. Just right before Sam Antonitsch had the chance for Germany to reestablish the two-goal lead, but could not beat Gronstrand.

The Scandinavians kept fighting and it paid off in the most exiting fashion imaginable: With 2.3 seconds left on the game clock Colin Olsen was alone in front Friesinger to tie the game at three goals each.

In overtime Germany could not convert a man advantage, so the game had to be decided in the shootout. Knold eventually won the tie-breaker for his team thanks to two amazing dekes. It was already the third time the Norwegians had to go to the shootout at this tournament, though this one was the only time they were able to gain the extra point.

With this result Norway was on third place for the moment, but everything would depend on how many points Kazakhstan could earn in the evening’s game against host Austria.

Team Norway celebrates the game-tying-goal with 2,3 seconds left on the game clock.

Austria vs Kazakhstan

The last game of the 2016 U20 Division 1A World Championship in Vienna was the meeting between the two biggest surprises of the tournament. Austria could go into the game with the knowledge of having won silver already, whereas Kazakhstan needed three points in order to earn the bronze medal.

The Kazakhs did not wait long too show that they wanted to finish on third place. Only 20 seconds were played, when Mario Huber turned the puck over and Dmitri Grents said ‘rahmet’, putting the puck behind the goal line with a nice wrister. Only 62 seconds later the hosts lost another puck in the defensive zone and this time it was Stepan Sheftan to make it 2-0.

Austrian head coach Roger Bader took a time-out and his team responded. Anton Bruyev, playing a very aggressive goaltending style, saved the two-goal-lead numerous times, before it was Mario Huber to make up for his mistake at the beginning.

Kazakhstan defeated Austria, winning the bronze medal.

The Austrians were pushing for the equalizer in the second period, but it was Kazakhstan to increase its lead. In the 30^th minute Nikita Nezmanov assisted Vladmir Volkov for the power play goal. Igor Borovikov added one more with an amazing shot from a seemingly impossible angle to make it 4-1 after fourty minutes of play.

In the final period, highlighted by an amazing desperation glove save by Austrian goalkeeper Thomas Stroj on Alikhan Asetov’s penalty shot, the Asians controlled the lead. Goals by Stepan Shtefan and Lukas Haudum finalized the 5-2 result.

The three points earned in this game give Kazakhstan the bronze medal. A great accomplishment for the team coached by Sergei Starygin, considering they have been promoted to this division just one season ago.

Final standings at the IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division I Group A

1) Latvia (promoted to the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship)
2) Austria
3) Kazakshtan
4) Norway
5) Germany
6) Italy (relegated to the IIHF U20 World Championship Division I Group B)

Best goalie: Matiss Kivlenieks (Latvia)

Best defenceman: Karlis Cukste (Latvia)

Best forward: Florian Baltram (Austria)

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