2004 Australian
National Mens Senior Team
The 2004 Australian
National Senior Team competed in the IIHF Div II World Championships.
The Championships were held in Spain from 12 April to 18 April
2004. Competing teams were:
Croatia
China
Spain
Australia
Israel
Luxembourg
Mighty
Roos Tie Spain To Win Bronze 18
April
As expected,
it all came down to a final action packed game between two of
the IIHF's Division II long time rivals - the Mighty Roos and
Spain to determine who would take the Bronze at the IIHF Division
II World Championships in Jaca, Spain.
The Mighty
Roos went into the game with the Roos, China and Croatia having
one loss each for the Championship. Because of the goals for and
against percentage, the Roos only hope for a medal was to knock
off or tie Spain. This would give China the Gold Medal, Croatia
the Silver Medal and the Roos a Bronze.
00:41 seconds
into the game, Victorian, Lliam Webster, opened up the scoring
followed by South Australian, Greg Oddy, for the Roos second goal
six minutes later. Spain responded with two goals at the 07:45
and 08:56 mark. At 09:11 Vladi Rube responded with the Mighty
Roos 3rd goal ending the first period 3 - 2 in favour of the Mighty
Roos.
At 03:01 and
06:27 of the second period Spain replied again. Two minutes later,
New South Waler, Chris Sekura, tied the game. The game continued
to be a hard fought affair with both teams striving to hold ground.
Needing an outright win to take the Bronze, Spain pulled their
goaltender in the dying minutes of the game, but could not penetrate
the Roos defence. The game ended in a 4 - 4 draw with the Mighty
Roos awarded the Bronze Medal.
Mighty Roos,
Vladi Rubes, received a medal each for the Championships best
forward and highest points. He was also awarded the Mighty Roos
Team Player Award. Vladi's Bronze Medal will be entered and placed
on display in the Hockey Hall of Fame, a fitting tribute to his
Championship performance.
The team departs
later today for Australia. After a much needed and short rest,
the players will commence training with their respective teams
in preparation for the AIHL's season opening games starting the
01st May 2004. Congratulations to the officials and players of
the IHA 2004 Mighty Roos Team.
Mighty
Roos Still On Track for Gold 17
April
After losing
to Israel in the dying seconds on a number of previous World Championship
games, the Mighty Roos finally tasted "sweet victory"
when they took out Israel 6-1 at the IIHF Division II World Championships
in Jaca, Spain today.
Manager, Wayne
Hellyer, stated: "We didn't have the luck previously because
of close games going down to the dying seconds. This time the
boys made sure we had enough goals upfront to ensure Israel couldn't
repeat a "rabbit pull" like they have done on so many
occasions previously."
The first
period had Israel score first, but the Roos came back with Sydney
Bears center, Vladi Rube, notching his fourth goal for the Championships
to end the period 1-1.
The second
period saw Adelaide Avalanche, Greg Oddy, leading the way scoring
early in the period followed by Canberra Knights defenceman, Mark
Rummakainen, with a shot from the point and 20 seconds later,
Adelaide Avalanche speedster, Luke Thilthorpe, scoring the Roos
fourth goal taking the Roos out front 4 - 1.
Melbourne
Ice youngster, Lliam Webster, opened the third period with a close
in goal followed by Adelaide Avalanche winger, Ben Thilthorpe,
for a final score of 6 - 1. West Sydney Ice Dogs, net minder,
Alan Becken,
was in net for the entire game.
Mighty Roos,
Vladi Rubes, is currently leading in Championship points with
ten points followed closely by Greg Oddy and Tyler Lovering with
eight points each. In total, The Mighty Roos have six players
in the top
ten point leaders.
The Roos are
looking solid and are now waiting the outcome of the other games.
It is conceivable there could be a three way split for Gold, Silver,
or Bronze.
The Mighty
Roos final game against Spain is shaping up to be not only an
all important medal game in front of the host fans, but could
also place the Roos in contention for Gold if China takes out
Croatia in their
final encounter.
Mighty
Roos 22 - 0 Win Over Luxembourg 15 April
The Mighty
Roos saw all lines firing as they work their way towards a medal
in the Div II World Championships in Jaca, Spain. The team took
to the ice using all four lines to sharpen their skills in preparation
for their next encounter against Israel & Spain.
Leading the
way were New South Wales, Brett Nelson-Bond, with five goals,
South Australians Greg Oddy scoring four and Luke Thilthorpe with
three and Victorian, Joey Hughes, also notching three. Roos need
back-to-back wins against Israel and Spain to capture a medal.
Mighty
Roos Bow 8 - 2 to Croatia 14
April
Ice Hockey
Australia "Mighty Roos" suffered an 8 -2 loss to Croatia
in their second game of the IIHF 2004 Division II World Championships.
The first
period ended 2-1 for Croatia with Trevor Walsh, scoring the Roo's
single goal. The period saw both teams evenly matched with solid
end-to-end play.
The second
period saw a steady stream of Roos going to the penalty box making
it all Croatia after scoring 5 unanswered goals. Alan Becken started
in net and was replaced by Queenslander, Matt Ezzy, after Croatia's
third goal. The constant flow of penalties caused the Mighty Roos
to be shorthanded most of the period giving Croatia every advantage
to increase their lead.
The third
was an even period as the Roos returned to their normal playing
form with each team scoring one goal apiece. Victorian, Joey Hughes,
scored the Roos second goal tipping in a shot from blue liner
Tyler Lovering.
The Roos are
now looking to build on their solid third period performance when
they next meet Luxembourg and stay in the hunt for a medal.
Mighty
Roos Big Win Over China 12
April
The Aussie
"Mighty Roos" delivered a historical 6 - 5 win today
over China in their first game at the IIHF Division II World Championships
Jaca, Spain. This is The Mighty Roos' first ever win over China
during their many encounters at previous IIHF World Senior Championships.
The first period started off with Vladi Rube scoring 00:19 seconds
into the game. The period ended with China ahead 2 - 1.
The second period was all Mighty Roos with two goals from Walsh,
and one each from Chris Sekura, Ben Thilthorpe and Vladi Rube.
China replied with one goal to end the period 6 - 3.
China came alive in the third period with two unanswered goals.
Goaltender, Allan Becken and the Mighty Roos defence held of the
pressure for a final score and win of 6 - 5.
With the taste of a win fresh in their mind, the Mighty Roos are
now looking forward to their next encounter against Croatia. A
win against Croatia would place the Roos in the medals and a solid
position for Gold. Coach Barnes believes his team has the three
solid lines needed to carry them through to Gold. Victorian's,
Joey Hughes and Liam Webster, are yet to make their mark.
The Mighty
Roo’s quest for gold will be done under the leadership of world-class
coaching director - Rob Barnes. Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs
in 1975, Signed by the Edmonton Oilers WHA, Rob went on to play
a majority of his professional career in Finland, Sweden and Switzerland.
He then turned to coaching and was a head coach in Sweden and
Germany. As an assistant coach, Rob worked for the Florida Panthers
in the NHL as well as for Team Canada in 2002.
Host Spain is having problems with the internet and are unable
to provide immediate statistics on the games. Watch the IHA and
IIHF Websites for more news.
Go "THE ROOS".
2004 National
Mens Senior Team Members
2004 National
Mens Senior Team Members were:
Becken, Alan
- Goal
Ezzy, Matt - Goal
Rummukainen, Mark
Lovering, Tyler
Wilson, Anthony
Burke, Don
Foll, Glen
George, Dan
Nelson-Bond, Brett
Rubes, Vladimir
Sekura, Chris
Shumak, Paul
White, Andrew
Oddy, Greg
Thilthorpe, Luke
Thilthorpe, Ben
Walsh, Trevor
Matus, Peter
Webster, Liam
Joey Hughes
General Manager
- Wayne Hellyer
Technical Coaching Advisor - Robert Barnes
Coach - Don Champagne
Assistant Coach - Vladimir Rube
Equipment - Ray Sheffield
Medical / Trainer - Ian Webster
