Japan routes Ukraine to grab a medal

Japan ends its journey at World Championship with a victory against the young Ukraine, still tired after the battle with Lithuania. Asian team plays with the skills and the speed used last year in Belfast and only sometimes showed on Kaunas ice. Two goals in the first 7 minutes route the match in favour of Japan: Yushi Nakayashiki opens at 02:38 with a deflection and Ryo Hashimoto doubles the score at minute 07 with a flat precise shot. Ukraine has a vital sign at the end of period with a 5 v s 3 situation not wisely played.

Different story in the second period with Ukraine scoring after two minutes on power play with Andrei Mikhnov, keeping the control of the game putting Japan in the corner for a long time. Asian team with a bit of luck survives to the siege securing the victory with a beautiful goal from the blue scored by Ryo Hashimoto at 27:06. Toyoma Echigo scores the fourth for Japan at 35:19 netting a creative pass by Shogo Nakajima. Twenty seconds before the siren Dmitri Ignatenko hits the post with a missile from the blue. If Ukrsaine shots from long range finds the post, so it's not for those of Japan: at 43:22 Goshi Ito leaves no chance for Dyachenko. The World Championship for Ukrainian goalie ends at 45:28 when Hiroto Sato scores the sixth goal for Japan: Sergi Gaiduchenko replaces him in the net. The stubbornness of Kenta Takagi, aggressively recovering a puck in the neutral zone beating unassisted Gaiduchenko, gives Japan goal number seven, a decidedly excessive punishment. Japan closes the campaign with a medal, most likely not of the color hoped and planned before the start of Championship. Ukraine, back for Division Ia begins this year the process of growth of a new generation.

MVP: Dmitri Nimenko – Shogo Nakajima

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