INNSBRUCK, Austria – Austria is back in the top division and they will have to travel just across the border to take part in Switzerland 2009. The Austrians scored five unanswered goals in the second period against Poland en route to a convincing 7-3 win. Kazakhstan is second, Poland third and Korea relegated.

Austria – Poland 7-3 (1-1, 5-0, 1-2)

The last game Austria vs. Poland would decide about the promotion. The hosts needed one point, Poland three to get gold. The hosts were worried about their NHL star Thomas Vanek, who missed the morning practice and played the last games while being sick, but everyone was on the ice and nobody wanted to miss the promotion.

The first big scoring chances were to the Austrians. Dieter Kalt had a breakaway at 7:25 but shot over the cage. Austrian-Canadian Jeremy Rebek had more luck four minutes later with a hard shot after a cross pass from Thomas Raffl. The fans were chanting but 89 seconds later, Marcin Kolusz silenced the crowd when he brought the puck around Austria defenceman Gerhard Unterluggauer and defeated netminder Rafal Radziszewski.

The home crowd had only to be halfway worried in the first period as their favourites made use of their chances against an overstrained Polish defence in the second one. Dieter Kalt, who had two goals and an assist tonight, regained the lead with a 5-on-3 rebound goal. Just 23 seconds later, Unterluggauer made it 3-1 after Kalt’s shot was deflected by Radziszewski. Again Kalt netted the fourth Austrian goal after a centring pass from Thomas Koch. At 31:55, Daniel Welser made it 5-1 after a great pass to the goal crease by Roland Kaspitz.

Poland head coach Rudolf Rohacek took a time-out but it was too late. And at 39:10, Radziszewski couldn’t completely block the puck around his skated after a shot from Christoph Brander and the disc rolled over the line. 6-1 after two periods – the top game was decided early. Unterluggauer scored another goal in the third period while Poland netted two from Maciej Urbanowicz and Adrian Labryga, but the party couldn’t be spoiled.

“It was just great. The chemistry within the team was good and the atmosphere in Innsbruck magnificent,” match-winner Dieter Kalt said.

“It was great to be back with Team Austria after three years and to experience this. I’m happy that we achieved our aim and hope that we’ll never have to play again in Division I,” Austria and Buffalo Sabres winger Thomas Vanek said after the game. “I had maybe to give more interviews and autographs, but we respected each other in the same way here and I played in a good line with Dieter Kalt and Thomas Koch, who harmonise well.”

For Austria, it’s a quick return to the top pool World Championship. Austria had won Division I gold just two years ago but didn’t manage to remain with the elite nations in the 2007 World Championship in Russia. “Switzerland we’re coming!” the already anticipated fans were chanting. Next year’s World Championship in Berne and Zurich-Kloten will be just a few-hour ride across the border for the Austrians. Poland won bronze after the defeat, the silver medals were to Kazakhstan.


This shot by Jeremy Rebek opened the score for Austria against Poland. Photo: puckfans.at

Kazakhstan – Great Britain 3-1 (1-1, 0-0, 2-0)

The Kazakhs lost the gold medal race yesterday but were still in run for the other ones. They secured at least bronze after a 3-1 win against Great Britain.

The game had a bad beginning with Kazakhstan’s Roman Starchenko injuring Great Britain defender Kyle Horne by elbowing. He got a game misconduct and five-minute penalty, which David Clarke used to take the lead for Team UK. It was one of few scoring chances for the Brits.

Kazakhstan was outshooting his opponent 20-4 in the first and 15-4 in the second period. Despite the domination, the Kazakhs didn’t score more than the equalizer at 12:34. Andrey Spiridonov was waiting until Great Britain goalie Stephen Murphy went down and scored with a high shot.

The Brits saw their chances and were better in the last period but in the last minutes of the game, the Kazakhs finally got the knack. Artemiy Lakiza’s distance shot at 54:42 brought them the lead for the first time and half a minute later, Alexey Vyatkin made it 3-1 when he pushed the puck over the line after Murphy couldn’t catch it following a shot from Yevgeniy Ushkov.

Kazakhstan missed the return to the elite nations again and will get silver or bronze, depending on the last game, Austria vs. Poland. Great Britain finishes fourth-ranked.


Much work for the British defence against Kazakhstan. Photo: puckfans.at

Click here for the game's photo gallery.

Netherlands – Korea 6-5 (2-1, 2-3, 1-1, 1-0) OT

The Netherlands and the last year promoted team, Korea, had no points after four games and played against relegation in their head-to-head game. The teams showed an open and entertaining game with many scoring chances and defensive slackness. Despite of clearly outshooting its opponent, 37-23, Korea is relegated and the Netherlands won their most important game.

As one day ago, Korea opened the score. Min Ho Cho stole the puck from Bjorn Willemse and found the net at 2:52 but Casey van Schagen equalised one minute later with a shot from the blue line after a won face-off.

Bad luck for the South Koreans in the 16th minute. Again Min Ho Cho hit the crossbar and 12 seconds later Marcel Kars scored for the Netherlands after a breakaway and a centering pass from Diederick Hagemeijer. Jamie Schaafsma, just after having left the penalty box, made it 3-1 at 26:53 with a nonhazardous flat shot between the pads of Korea goalie Ho Seung Son.

Korea lowered the Dutch lead twice when Woo Sang Park reflected a shot from Ki Sung Kim at 28:07 and Min Ho Cho made his second goal after Bradley Smulders had scored for the Netherlands between. It was 4-3 for the Dutch and head coach Tommie Hartogs took a time-out to appeal to his defence-lacking players. It was no use. Yong Jun Lee equalised with a shot reflected by Netherlands goalie Phil Groeneveld.

The sensation was again in the air when Ki Sung Kim skated around the stagnant Dutch Peter van Biezen and scored the 5-4 for Korea at 53:05. The Netherlands pulled their goalie for a final rush and only some seconds later, Doug Stienstra tied the game. It seemed that a shoot-out would have to decide about the team which had to swallow the bitter pill of relegation but Schaafsma disallowed this scenario and scored his second goal 4:23 minutes into the overtime.

The Netherlands stay in Division I after a modest performance in Innsbruck while the Koreans have to go back to Division II. The South Koreans said good bye to the fans with hanging heads as they had become the crowd’s favourite after Team Austria thanks to their courageous but unrewarded effort during the tournament. However, they have to practice much on their inefficient and weakly offence for another try.


Jamie Schaafsma scored the game-winner and made the Koreans mourning. Photo: puckfans.at

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Click here for scores and statistics.

MARTIN MERK