Sofia, Bulgaria – Team Belgium viewed their game against Serbia, who had been relegated from Division IIa, as a potential victory. Motivated by the prospect of winning medals, Belgium brought a highly motivated team to the face-off.
However, reality proved different. Within the first 15 minutes, Coach Turgeon's troops found themselves trailing by three goals. The first period saw Belgium struggling, with a series of penalties hindering their progress.
In the second period, Belgium seemed to regain some momentum. An early goal by #14 Gommeren G hinted at a possible turnaround. Despite Belgium's efforts, Serbia remained offensively strong, scoring their final goal of the evening four minutes before the break. With just six seconds remaining, #2 Cuveliers N scored, assisted by #22 Delport R, bringing the teams back to the locker room with a 2-4 deficit.
Although Belgium showed determination and resilience, the penalties they incurred prevented them from mounting a sufficient offensive to overcome the deficit. #7 Willems S managed to get the puck past the Serbian goalie, but a 3-4 score was not enough for a victory.
This result is a significant setback for Team Belgium, which had previously achieved remarkable results in the tournament.
MVP: Niels Cuvelier