PICTURED: APA/AFP/JONATHAN NACKSTRAND
The ice hockey record world champion was fully challenged by outsiders Germany in the final on Sunday and was twice behind, but finally won 5:2 (1:1,1:1,3:0). Samuel Blais with his second goal of the evening (45th) and Tyler Toffoli (52nd) made the decision in the final third.
Surprise finalist Germany kept up at eye level for two thirds. Trained at the Red Bull Academy in Salzburg, John Jason Peterka advanced the DEB selection 1-0 (8′), the NHL striker for the Buffalo Sabers scored after a perfect long pass from star defender Moritz Seider. Thanks to Blais, the Canadians quickly equalized (11′).
The Germans were not impressed by this, Daniel Fischbuch (34th) ensured the lead again. In their first power play, the Canadians managed to level again (38th) through Lawson Crouse.
In the final third, however, the class of team manager Andre Torigny, which consisted almost exclusively of seasoned NHL players, prevailed. St. Louis Blues’ Blais and Calgary Flames captain Tyler Toffoli on the break completed the Canadians’ victory. Scott Laughton fixed the final score with a shot into the empty goal.
Germany narrowly missed out on its first major title, but won its seventh medal in a major event after World Cup silver in 1930 and 1953 as well as Olympic silver in 2018 and bronze in 1932 (Olympics/WM), 1934 (WM) and 1976 (Olympics). And that despite the fact that team boss Harold Kreis had canceled 15 top performers injured before the World Cup.
After three narrow defeats at the beginning of the tournament, they fought their way into the knockout stage with four wins, including against Austria, defeated Switzerland, who were sovereign in the group stage, and prevailed against the US team in the semifinals. But the really big coup didn’t succeed.
In the afternoon, the second surprise team of the tournament in Finland and Latvia won a historic bronze medal. In front of thousands of their own fans, Latvia defeated the USA 4:3 (2:2,0:0,1:1,1:0) after extra time in the small final and thus won their very first World Cup medal. The North Americans, on the other hand, took fourth place, as in the previous year.
“Big teams like Canada keep winning medals. But it was a unique opportunity for us. It’s unbelievable,” said Miks Indrasis about the historic success. “I’m happy to be an ice hockey player in Latvia because people love ice hockey. But being an ice hockey player today is beyond me,” said Martins Dzierkals.
Roberts Bukarts gave the Latvians the lead (8′), which Rocco Grimaldi immediately equalized (10′). Janis Jaks shot the outsider in front again seven minutes later. Shortly thereafter, the puck landed in the scorer’s face, unluckily deflected, which should entail a visit to the dentist. But again it was World Cup top scorer Grimaldi who leveled the game with his seventh World Cup goal.
After a goalless middle period, Matt Coronato put the US boys ahead for the first time (47′) before Kristians Rubins became the Latvian match winner and made history. The 25-year-old from the AHL team Calgary Wranglers first made it 3-3 (55 ‘) after an assist from Rihards Bukarts, who was most recently under contract with KAC and ended up in the top five in the points list with three goals and eight assists. In extra time Rubins scored after 1:22 minutes for the much acclaimed victory for the Balts.
Source: Nachrichten
