ISTANBUL - The national men's team played its fourth match at the IIHF Worlds in division 2B in Istanbul, Turkey, today, Friday 21 April. The fourth opponent of the Belgians was host country Turkey.
The fact that the home team always has an advantage is evident from the initial phase of this first period. Turkey scores two goals in barely two minutes, whereby goalie Jelle Lievens was surprised twice by a long-distance shot. Coach Jeffrey Van Iersel intervenes and replaces him with Arne Waumans.
In the fifth minute Boris Kolyasnikov passes the puck to team captain Vadim Gyesbreghs who dekes through the Turkish defense and finishes off. Belgium is back in the game.
When Turkey gets a delayed penalty, goalie Arne Waumans substitutes for a sixth man. The Belgians play the puck around nicely and take their time to build up the attack where Alec James equalizes. At the end of the first period, the Belgians again had some chances to score via the power play, but the Turkish goalie kept hist team in the game.
In the third minute of the second period, the Belgians score a third goal by finishing a power play. Rik Cuylen indicates, Sam Verelst scores in the chaos in front of the Turkish net. Three minutes later, Dries Blockx puts the four on the scoreboard, nicely assisted by James Alec. Again, via the powerplay. The opponents pay dearly for their many penalties. Midway through the period, again on a powerplay, Alec James scores the fifth goal on a hard shot from the blue line. A few minutes later, Jeffie Versin also scores, the sixth goal for Team Belgium, from the blue line.
In the last period, the Belgians continue to dominate. Ben Coolen, Vadim Gyesbreghs and Sam Verelst score goals seven, eight and nine … during the powerplay.
“Team Belgium can recover after a mediocre start and dominates the rest of the game. The result speaks for itself,” responds coach Van Iersel from Istanbul.
Final Score TUR vs. BEL: 2-9 (2-2; 0-4;0-3) with goals from Vadim Gyesbreghs (2), Alec James (2), Sam Verelst (2), Dries Blockx, Jeffie Versin & Ben Coolen
MVP Match Team Belgium: #6 Vadim Gyesbreghs
Game Schedule
MON 17/04 – 12:00
NZL vs. BEL: 1-4
TUE 18/04 – 15:30
BEL vs. UAE: 3-4
THU 20/04 – 15:30
BEL vs. MEX: 11-2
FRI 21/04 – 19:00
TUR vs. BEL: 2-9
SUN 23/04 – 15:30
BEL vs. BUL