REYKJAVIK - Today, January 16, the Belgians played their first game of their World Championship campaign (series DIV2B) in the Icelandic capital Reykjavik. Face-off at 5:30 PM Belgian time against China.
In the first period, the Belgians can score quickly. Barely after the first minute, the team plays a power play through a tripping penalty from XU Hanyong and Lowie Vreys can put the Belgians ahead with an assist from his brother Tijs. The Chinese corrected the deficit in the fifteenth minute. Although outnumbered, they manage to recover the puck in the neutral zone, resulting in a turnover that gives SONG Jianuo free rein to score.
In the second period, the Belgians manage to take the lead again. The power play is put to good use when MA Sicheng goes to the penalty box for hooking. Eneas Palmaerts gives the right pass and Tobi Gentry finishes. In the 33rd minute, the Belgians catch a penalty themselves. Van Montfoort gets 2 minutes for 'holding the stick'. China takes advantage of the situation and again scores the equalizer in this second period.
In the last period, Palmaerts this time plays the puck accurately to Enrique De Meyere who finishes, resulting in a new lead for the Belgians. The Chinese increase the pressure considerably and with five minutes left on the clock, China scores the equalizer via LUAN Rong. In the last minutes, the Belgians are now putting the pressure on, looking for the winning goal. However, the regular game ends in a tie and is therefore decided in Overtime, three vs. three. It is LYU Zhiyi who ends this thriller by drilling the puck into the Belgian nets in the fourth minute of the OT.
Final score: 3-4 OT (1-1; 1-1; 1-1; 0-1) with goals from Lowie Vreys, Tobi Gentry & Enrique De Meyere.
“They can skate and shoot, so our game plan was to stay gritty and check on puck,” Coach Gil Paelinck reacts from Reykjavik. “Skate with them, don’t give them any room. My biggest worry was when we had to go to the 3 on 3. There our opponents got too much room. In such a situation you lean on a few players to get through and that’s tough too. At the end of the day, we can’t complain too much. We’re only a point behind now. Anything is still possible. I’m satisfied with the work ethic of the team. Of course, they’re gutted with this game ending in an overtime loss. It’s tough. Now it’s a matter to keep them pumped up for tomorrow. A big game against the host country.”
MVP Team BEL: Stijn RAEYMAEKERS Stijn
Game Schedule Team Belgium U20
16.01 – 17h30: BEL vs. CHN: 3-4 OT
17.01 – 21h00: BEL vs. ISL
19.01 – BEL vs. MEX
20.01 – TPE vs. BEL
22.01 – SRB vs. BEL