Ticket to Rungsted

It should have been just a parade to celebrate the historic qualification to semi-finals; a game against a team that suffered 11 goals in the last game against Tychy. Without Jakab Redlihs and Aleksandrs Galkins and back-up Nils Grinfogels in the net, Kurbads decided to apply the motto “no pain no gain” making things an even keel, playing an awful first period where the decent Narva manages to control the reaction of the home team after unexpectedly opens the score with Aleksandr Kuznetsov after 04 minute. The best chances are for Gricinskis and Zeltins, not really a threat for Anatoli Sizov, back in Narva net after the last game, played by Aleksandr Kolossov.

In the second period finally the plot is the most logic: a siege by Kurbads with Narva bravely facing the waves of attacks and goalie Sizov making miracles to keep his team on tracks. All the great efforts of home team, pushed by fans, produces the goal of Sandis Zolmanis: his one-timer on Janis Sprukts assist leaves no chances for Sizov. Before the siren, great chance for Sarkanis but his shot is on Sizov. It’s captain Tom Bluks to finally gives the deserved advantage at the beginning of third period with a long-range shot, assisted by Martins Cipulis and his expression of relief after the net explains well the feelings of home players. Despite several other chances the score remains the same until the final siren, with Narva bravely pull the goalie for the final assault.

Kurbads advances to semi-finals in Denmark in November, a great debut for the champion of Latvia in a group stage where GKS Tychy enters as favourite but the victory of home team in the direct confrontation was clear and unequivocal

Awards:

Best goalie: Uldis Calpa (HK Kurbads)

Best Defender: Renars Valters (HK Kurbads)

Best Forward: Mike Cichy (GKS Tychy)

MVP: Martins Cipulis (HK Kurbads)

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