The world of inline hockey has a new champion in Junior Men: Czech Republic complete the sweep with six straight wins. Spain is back-to-back champion in Junior Women. Silver for Usa, in both tournaments. Bronze goes to Spain in Junior Men, to Canada in Junior Women. And now it's up to the Seniors: teams are landed, puck drop July 6th.
4 july Junior Men Finals in Mar Bella:
Gold medal game: Czech Republic – Usa 5-2
Bronze medal game: Canada – Spain 2-4
4 july Junior Woman Finals in Mar Bella:
Gold medal game: Spain – Usa 2-0
Bronze medal game: Canada – Finland 5-3
Junior Men finals:
Czech Republic won gold in Junior Men. One of the best hockey tradition confirms its status. Junior hockey program in Czech Republic is growing fast, assuring a bright future to the national movement. Anyway, the final wasn't easy. Usa had more scoring chances but found a wall in Michal Postava, czech netminder that played a terrific game (sometimes with the help of posts and bar too). The Czech showed to the world their shooting accuracy and letal breakaways. First goal was a quick one: Hasek scored for the Czechs time 1.01. Czechs had to wait until the first minute of the second period to find the net again: it's an odd man rush finalized by Rysavy. Thy key moment of the game came in the middle of second period when Usa scored on a scramble with sniper Panisa and the Czechs answered in less than a minute. Svotil put the puck top shelf, so the momentum didn't change. Another perfect snapshot by Luza gave the Czechs the fourth one. Vadeboncoeur kept Usa alive, but Rysavy closed the game on empty net.
A group that never give up: Spain junior man team. They suffered the biggest disappointment yesterday, they fought hard again today and finally got a deserved medal. Canada paid some bad penalties and finished at fourth place. The Northamericans played well in the first period, taking advantage twice: first with Castagna on power play, then (after 1-1 scored by Diez Mora) with Abbamont on a turnover. In the second period spanish power play struck again with De Las Heras. Spain took the momentum and started to push hard, along with its hot fans: on a rebound, De Las Heras scored again. The battle continued till the end when Spain score the empty netter with Garcia Edo.
Junior Women finals:
Mar De Saja studied in the Usa and speaks a proper english. But she's 100% spanish: no remorse to score two goals against Us, deciding a very close Junior Women final in Mar Bella. Spain is a solid team, plays a smart game with strong goaltending too. So the final went: De Saja scored after just 16 seconds. Spain built its win on that early advantage, closing spaces and shooting lanes. They attacked too, outshooting Usa. In the second period Usa began to feel frustrate and took to many penalties. In double power play, De Saja scored again on a rebound. Goalie Moreno Vaca ended the job with a shut-out to remember. Red Furies are back-to-back champions in Junior Women.
In bronze medal game, Canada restored its reputation coming from behind after a difficult start. In the first period Finland played a solid game: they scored in the first attempt with Klemola and then controlled the game. Klemola scored again on power play. After intermission, Canada changed face. Higher pace, intensity on the boards and into the slot: they finally found a way to gain the momentum. Goals came: Laidlaw in the first minute, Hardly and Stolz in less then sixty seconds, Hennigan at 5.06. Finland shortened on power play, but Canada answered on a quick transition with Laidlaw.
4 July Junior Men other results:
5/6 place: Colombia – Namibia 2-1
4 july Junior Women other results:
5/6 place: Colombia – Italy 4-1
Follow WRG19 Inline Hockey livescores, standings and schedule here: www.inlinehockey.wrg2019.com
Media assets: https://bit.ly/2NgG1iz
PHOTO CREDIT VANESSA ZENOBINI
