Kazakhstan returns for the 2012 World Championship

23 Apr 2011 | Henrik Lundqvist

Kazakhstan beat Ukraine 3-2 in overtime in the last game of the World Championship Division 1B in Kyiv to return to the Elite division for 2012. Estonia are relegated to Division 2 after losing to Lithuania.

23 Apr 2011, 20:30 | Regular season | Palace of Sports Kyiv

Kazakhstan

3:2 OT

Ukraine

Periods:
Shots:

0:0
(12:3)

1:1
(8:9)

1:1
(9:11)

1:0
(2:0)

Referees: David Lewis (CAN) | Spectators: 6837

6837 fans in Palace of Sports hoped for a Ukrainian win and a hope for promotion but Kazakhstan won today's final game of the championship in overtime to win 2 points ahead of the surprise Great Britain.

"If you win something, it’s always special, especially with your national team,' said Kazakh forward Konstantin Pushkaryov to iihf.com. "It’s twice as good."

Kazakhstan took the leag halfways through the game but Ukraine tied it late in the second period and took the lead 5 minutes into the third. Andrei Gavrilin scored Kazakhstan's equalizer at 52:22 and Fedor Polischuk got the game-winner at 2 minutes of the overtime, but then Kazakhstan had already secured the championship win and the promotion to the Elite division.

23 Apr 2011, 17:00 | Regular season | Palace of Sports Kyiv

Poland

2:3

Great Britain

Periods:
Shots:

1:2
(13:9)

1:0
(14:7)

0:1
(10:4)

Referees: Jan Hribik (CZE) | Spectators: 1754

Great Britain finished second after beating Poland 3-2. One of the keys to the British success was of course Stephen Murphy who was named the best goaltender of the championship.

23 Apr 2011, 13:30 | Regular season | Palace of Sports Kyiv

Lithuania

5:2

Estonia

Periods:
Shots:

2:1
(11:11)

1:1
(11:11)

2:0
(13:9)

Referees: Richard Schuetz (GER) | Spectators: 892

Lithuania and Estonia had lost all games before their meeting on the last day and the loser of this game would relegate to Division 2. Lithuania proved to be the stronger team and won 5-2 to send Estonia to the lower level of the World Champonships for 2012.