REYKJAVIK - Today, January 22, Team Belgium U20 played its last match of their World Championship campaign Reykjavik, Iceland. After a bad start with an overtime defeat against China, the Belgians fully recovered and recorded successive victories against Iceland, Mexico, Chinese Taipei, and Serbia, earning them silver!
Belgium is off to a strong start in the last match against Serbia. Barely in the first minute, the Belgians get a powerplay, and they make the most of it. Rik CUYLEN finishes well through Tobi GENTRY and Lowie VREYS. The lead is short-lived, however, because in the third minute the Serbs score against, and the game is tied. The opponents put a lot of pressure throughout the period and in the last minute of the first period Minja IVANOVIC found a hole in the Belgian defense to give his team a lead. The Belgians try another counterattack, but goalie Uros MILJKOVIC avoids the equalizer.
However, not for long, because just one minute into the second period, the Belgians play another power play and Yarne VAEREWYCK manages to score the equalizer with a well-placed sweep shot. Barely two minutes later, the Serbs again put up a strong defense and are back by a point. For the rest of the period, both teams put even more pressure on each other's goal. With six seconds left on the clock, Lowie VREYS does what he does best… scoring! The Belgians go to the dressing room with an equal score. A real boost to start the third period of this thriller.
In the last period, the game remains a true nail biter. In the sixth minute, Tebbe PEETERS puts Team Belgium back in the lead via Yarne VAEREWYCK. Both teams play an aggressive game followed by more penalty minutes. However, the Belgians play an excellent penalty killing and make full use of the power play. Tobi GENTRY scores the fifth goal on assist from Lowie VREYS. In a desperate attempt, the Serbian coach pulls his goalie Uros MILJKOVIC for an extra player. Nonetheless, the Belgians remain focused and after a few failed attempts, Tijs VREYS scores the empty netter. The Belgians therefore also win their last match at this World Championship. Excellent job!
“They did all the little things right. Simple out of the defensive zone. Put pucks to the net, crash the net. In the end that's where the goals came from,” said Coach Gil Paelinck in a first reaction from Reykjavik.
Final score: 3-6 (2-1; 1-2; 0-3) with goals from Rik Cuylen, Yarne Vaerewyck, Lowie Vreys, Tebbe Peeters, Tobi Gentry and Tijs Vreys.
MVP Team Belgium of this match: Yarne Vaerewyck
Best Player Team Belgium World Championship: Lowie Vreys
Match schedule Team Belgium U20
16.01 – 17h30: BEL vs. CHN: 3-4 OT Loss
17.01 – 21h00: BEL vs. ISL: 5-3 Victory
19.01 – 17h30: BEL vs. MEX: 5-3 Victory
20.01 – 17:30: TPE vs. BEL: 2-6 Victory
22.01 – 15:30: SRB vs. BEL: 2-6 Victory