Learning Experience for IHA’S National Senior Team

Despite not playing normal season games since early September 2008, coming off a summer break, and suffering the loss of two key players midway through the first game of the championship, Australia’s 2009 National Ice Hockey Team can hold their high and learn from their Division I experience. They now have the confidence they are competitive with the lower ranked Division I teams if they field a full squad and are better prepared for the rigors of Division I play.

Australia’s key game on preventing relegation back to Division II in 2010 was against Team Croatia. Neither team recorded a win in the regular round leading up to the final day of deciding games for all participating teams. The 5 – 1 win for Croatia was not indicative to the actual play in the game. A couple of unfortunate turnovers in Australia’s defensive end resulted in goals that normally would not have been scored. The loss of an entire line due to injuries added extra pressure on the remaining players

The Australians skated evenly with the Croatians with end-to-end plays by both teams and Australia having the best scoring opportunities early in the first period. Unfortunately, it was Croatia who notched the first goal late in the first period. The period ended with Croatia in the lead 1 – 0.

In the second, Croatia scored two goals on turnovers in Australia’s end to increase the lead 3 -0. Play remained tight until Australia’s defenceman, Rob Starke walked in and fired a slap shot high to the Croatian’s goaltender’s glove side on a passing combination from Seymour and Franchini to put the Aussies on the board and end the period with Croatia leading 3 – 1.

In the third, Australia was compelled to open up to reduce the margin by at least one goal for a chance at an overall victory. Croatia also stepped up the tempo and scored two more against the exhausted Aussies to record a final score of 5 – 1 and reinstatement in Division I as the 5th place team.

Australia’s defeat resulted in being relegated the 2010 Division II championship as the number one seeded team in their group. The groups (2 x 6 teams each) will be determined at the IIHF 2009 May Annual Congress in Bern Switzerland.

In other deciding games, Kazakhstan overpowered number one ranked Team Slovenia with an action packed 2 – 1 score and promotion to join the top 16 teams in the 2010 World Championship.

Japan retained third place and Bronze Medal status by defeating hosts Team Lithuania with a 5 – 1 result.

Team Australia players return home to their respective teams to commence their National 2009 Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) season with all AIHL teams playing their first game starting next weekend.

Team Australia Showdown With Croatia

After four days of competition it will be Team Australia versus Team Croatia on the final day of Division I Group A competition. The competition will determine which team will be relegated to Division II for 2010. David Huxley suffered a separated shoulder in the contest.

Although Team Australia faced fierce competition against Team Kazakhstan yesterday, the rookies (Villani & Upton), notched two goals against their formidable foe. A number of Kazakhstan’s players play in the Russian League which is equivalent to North America’s professional leagues. Goaltender Matt Ezzy started the game and after the first period was replaced by Stu Denham for the remainder of the game

Slovenia managed to hold off a persistent Japanese Team with a 2 – 1 score to retain their undefeated status. Slovenia will meet Team Kazakhstan, who is also undefeated, to determine who will be promoted to the top 16 teams for the 2010 World Championship.

Team Lithuania recorded a 7 – 2 victory over Team Croatia before a full house of loyal fans. Team Lithuania will now meet Team Japan for Bronze supremacy.

All teams have the day-off to recuperate prior to the final round of competition on Friday.

Australian National Senior Team Experiencing a New Level of Competion

IHA’s 2009 National Senior Team (NST-2009) players are experiencing a new level of competition at the IIHF 2009 World Division I Group A Championship in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The NST-2009 played the Division’s highest ranking team, Slovenia, in their first game. Slovenia was relegated to Division I after being relegated from the Top 16 Teams at the 2008 World Championships. The Aussies were compelled to play a totally defensive game against a much speedier and experienced opponent waiting for turnovers to carry the puck up ice for scoring opportunities. The Slovenians came on top with a 6 – 0 score to notch their first win of the Championship.

During the game, the Aussies lost their top player for the remainder of the Championship, when Greg Oddy took a shot to the side of his jaw resulting in a fracture of the jaw bone. In the third period Adrian Esposito suffered a strained muscle to his shoulder, but may be ready for game three against Lithuania. Goaltender Matt Ezzy faced 46 shots.

In the second encounter against Team Japan, the Aussies were more fluid and at ease with their opponents. However, the Aussies were unable to counter the exceptional speed and skill of the Japanese. Close to the final minutes of the second period, Jarrad Seymour found the net on a passing combination from Mitch Villani and Davey Upton to give the Aussies their first goal of the Championship. Team Japan recorded their second win of the Championship with a final 7 – 1 score, the same result as in their first game against Team Croatia. Matt Ezzy and Stu Denman shared goaltending duties for the Aussies.

All teams had a day-off yesterday in preparation for the next two days of games. The Aussies face Team Lithuania tonight in what is expected to be a full house of noisy Lithuanian fans

 

Australian 2009 National Senior Team Training Camp

Ice Hockey Australia’s 2009 National Senior Team arrived at Teen Ranch in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada last week for seven days of intense training in preparation for the IIHF 2009 World Division I Group B Championship in Vilnius, Lithuania starting next week.

The Aussies played their first exhibition game yesterday evening against the Mississauga Selects, a team comprised of a mixture of University and Junior A players. Lliam Webster led the way with a “hat trick” to give the Aussies a 6 – 1 win over the visitors. Veteran goaltender, Matt Ezzy was in the net for the Aussies.

In the first period, both teams played a cautious and close game until Scott Stephenson notched the games first goal with 4:34 remaining on a ‘tick-tack-toe’ passing combination from defencemen, Jarrad Seymour and Rob Starke. Two minutes later Harding and Oddy combined to feed Webster in the slot for his first of the game. The period ended 2 – 0 in favour of the Aussies.

The second period saw both teams step up the tempo. At the 8:26 mark, David Dunwoodie skated through the offensive pack to feed Greg Oddy on a breakaway, who made no mistake to increase the Aussies lead to 3 – 0. The remainder of the period remained scoreless.

Stu Denman replaced Ezzy in the third for the Aussies with Aussie’s third goaltender, Anthony Kimlin between the pipes for the visitors. At the 11:43 mark, Tomas Manco, unassisted fired a Kimlin rebound to stretch the Aussies lead to 4 – 0. Two minutes later, the visitors notched their first and only goal for the game taking the score to 4 – 1. At the 10:06 mark, Webster notched his second for the game, followed by his third for a final score of 6 – 1 in favour of the Aussies.

Head Coach, Steve McKenna stated:- “This was a good test for our boys and gave us a good indication on our strengths and weaknesses. We’ll hit the ice again tomorrow morning for a two hour session to work on our evaluations. I was overly pleased with our play, especially with our younger players. Mitch Villani is definitely at home with Oddy and Webster. Jarrad Seymour, who will be playing for Cornell University starting next season, has added depth to our defensive core.”

The Aussies have two more days of preparation prior to departing for Lithuania on Wednesday.

IHA Announces 2009 National Senior Team Roster

Ross Noga, IHA’s NST-2009 Team Manager, formally announced IHA’s 2009 National Senior Team roster for their participation in the IIHF’s 2009 World Division I, Group A Championship which is scheduled from the 11 – 17 April 2009 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Steve McKenna, the team’s head coach, stated:

"I am very excited about this year's team. We have a great collection speed and size that should come together well. Our returning veterans are going to be joined by some young fresh faces that are getting their first taste of the National Senior Team. I know that the older guys will mentor and lead the way for the others so that no one will be left behind.

Last year's team made great strides in getting us to Division I and this year's team will pick up where they left off. It will be a great experience for all of us and I hope that everyone enjoys it. It will require more out of these players than they could ever realize.

The speed and pace of the game will be on a level totally foreign to them. I've tried to convey to them the importance of conditioning and preparation during the last few months leading up to Lithuania. I am trusting that they will hit the ice in Toronto at full speed and ready to do what it takes to win against actual professional hockey players in Lithuania."

The team meets at Teen Ranch in Toronto for their pre-championship training camp.

Team Roster:

GK - Stuart Denman - Melbourne, VIC
GK - Matt Ezzy - Newcastle, NSW
D - Jarred Seymour- Sydney, NSW
D - Robert Starke - Sydney, NSW (Captain)
D - Joshua Harding – Adelaide, SA
D - David Huxley – Adelaide, SA
D - David Dunwoodie – Sydney, NSW
D - Andrew White – Sydney, NSW (Asst. Captain)
D - Riccardo Del Basso – Perth, WA
F - Greg Oddy – Adelaide, SA
F - Todd Stephenson – Sydney, NSW
F - Lliam Webster – Melbourne, VIC
F - Vladan Stransky – Sydney, NSW
F - Vladimir Rubes – Sydney, NSW
F - Casey Minson – Newcastle, NSW
F - Scott Stephenson – Sydney, NSW (Asst. Captain)
F - Adrian Esposito – Sydney, NSW
F - Roberto Franchini – Sydney, NSW
F - David Upton – Brisbane, QLD
F - Mitchell Villani – Adelaide, SA
F - Bradley Young – Perth, WA

Team Chef de Mission – Kevin Brown, Adelaide, SA
Team Manager – Ross Noga, Adelaide, SA
Team Coach – Steve McKenna, Adelaide, SA
Assistant Coach – Alain Shank, Ottawa, Canada
Team Medical Officer – Fred Stevenson, Newcastle, NSW
Equipment Officer – Ray Sheffield, Newcastle, NSW