SOFIA - Today, Thursday March 30, Team Belgium U18 played the third match of its World Championship campaign at the IIHF Worlds DIV2B in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The opponent of this third game was China.
In the first period, the Chinese quickly broke through the Belgian defense. With Owen Bernard in the penalty box for cross-checking, China gets a first power play, and the Asians use it to the fullest, outwitting goalie Tibe Palinckx in the seventh minute. Barely two minutes later, a second goal is scored by China. In the last minute, the puck hits the Belgian net for a third time. However, as this last minute ticks away, Dylan Hendrix fully uses a scoring opportunity and thus delivers a first attempt to close the gap.
In the second period, that momentum continues when two minutes into this period, Owen Bernard scores the second goal for Team Belgium set up by Damien Lemaire and Dylan Hendrix. However, Team China again runs out with a fourth goal midway through the period.
In the last period, Team China widens the gap even more. The Chinese score another two goals against the Belgians who fail to reciprocate. With three defeats in a row, the battle for relegation is getting closer.
Final score CHN vs. BEL: 6-2 (3-1; 1-1; 2-0) with goals from Dylan Hendrix and Owen Bernard
MVP Team Belgium: #18 Quinten Levecque
Game Schedule
MON 27/03/2023
15h30: BEL vs. TPE: 3-4
TUE 28/03/2023
19h00: BUL vs. BEL: 4-0
THU 30/03/2023
15h30: CHN vs. BEL: 6-2
SAT 01/04/2023
12:00: BEL vs. NED
SUN 02/04/2023
12:00: AUS vs. BEL