Martin’s successful debut

Slovakian club won its first international game

16.01.2009
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MHC Martin’s Lukas Riha against Keramin Minsk. Photo: Stéphanie Ouvry

ROUEN, France – Slovakian Extraliga team MHC Martin won its first-ever game in international club competitions against Belarusian champion Keramin Minsk, 5-1.

The Belarusians were a tough opponent for the Slovaks especially in the first period with their aggressive game but Martin could turn the game around after a 1-0 deficit.

The Slovaks took advantage of a quick start (with two Keramin penalties) but while Martin had a power play, its player David Appel took a penalty for tripping in his own zone. Just after the face-off, Keramin defenceman Andrei Glebov scored with a shot from the blue line at 7:18.

Keramin led after the first period despite being outshot 11-3 but their aggressive forechecking proved to be a good recipe as long as the box play was working well and and goalie Dmitri Karpikov made big saves.

Karpikov was surprisingly Keramin’s starting goalie instead of Slovak Matus Kostur, who has usually been the starter in this year’s games in the Belarusian league.

Peter Klepac equalized after just 28 seconds in the middle period and from exactly the same position as Glebov had opened the scoring in the first period.

Keramin came again in penalty trouble midway through the game and a five-on-three power play ended with cheering Martin players. Karpikov couldn’t bring the puck under control in front of him after a shot. Lukas Havel reacted quicker and shot the puck over the goal line at 35:56 to turn the game in favour of the Slovaks.

23 seconds before the middle stanza ended, Martin scored their third when Ivan Dornic finished a quick attack successfully. The Slovaks discovered their winning ways and at 50:05, Michal Beran extended the lead to 4-1. And four seconds prior to the final buzzer, Michal Macho found the back of the net for the final score of 5-1.

After the early setback, the game ended with a Slovakian win, also much to the liking of about hundred singing and drumming Martin fans, who travelled to Rouen with their team.

Click here for the game’s photo gallery.

Click here for scores and stats.

MARTIN MERK
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