ISTANBUL - Today, March 7, the U18 men's team played the third match of its World Championship campaign (DIV3A) in Istanbul, Turkey. After victories against Turkey and Mexico, the Belgians also waltzed smoothly past Bosnia & Herzegovina today.
With 54 shots on goal against 5, it goes without saying that the Belgians dominated the match. Notwithstanding, it took until the 14th minute in the first period for the first goal to fall. Gregory (#8/BEL) signed for the first Belgian goal on an assist from Schoovaerts (#12/BEL).
In the second period, the Belgians widened the gap. On the power play, Berckx (#23/BEL) scored the second point on an assist from Delport (#22/BEL). Barely three minutes later, Vermeulen (#17/BEL) put the 3 solo on the scoreboard. Suddenly, the Bosnians surprise and get back into the match. Vucinic (#11/BIH) scores the first goal shorthanded and with less than a minute in the second period, the opposition takes full advantage of the power play - Blanchy (#2/BEL) is on the penalty bench for hooking - with Vranesic (#5/BIH) outsmarting goalie Verlinden (#25/BEL) a second time.
In the third period, however, the Belgians go all out. In the second minute, Schoovaerts (#12/BEL) scores via Gregory (#8/BEL) and barely a minute later, the fifth goal follows via the stick of Delport (#22/BEL) on an assist from Laeremans (#18/BEL). The next minute, Geenen (#21/BEL) pops the puck past goalie Bajramovic (#20/BIH) via Schoovaerts (#12/BEL) and Jouret (#6/BEL). Bosnia makes a goalie change, but that doesn't stop the Belgians. Toward the end of the period, our boys score three more goals. Gregory (#8/BEL), Schoovaerts (12/BEL) and Laeremans (#18/BEL) round out the score with just under double digits. Once again, the Brabançonne resounds in Istanbul!
Final score: BEL vs. BIH: 9-2 (1-0; 2-2; 6-0)
MVP Team BEL: Dylan Hendrix (#4)
Game Schedule
04.03.2024 – 18:00 – TUR vs. BEL: 3-5
05.03.2024 – 14:30 – BEL vs. MEX: 8-0
07.03.2024 – 11:00 – BEL vs. BIH: 9-2
08.03.2024 – 11:00 – NZL vs. BEL
10.03.2024 – 14:30 – BEL vs. ISL