Australian National Senior Team Win Silver at Division II Group B Championships

IHA's 2007 National Senior Team have returned from Seoul, Korea with a Silver Medal following dropping an all important game to the Korean's earlier in the IIHF Division II World Championships. Korea took Gold and Israel finished with the Bronze.

The Aussies completed the championship with a 5 - 3 win over Iceland and 12 - 2 over Mexico. All teams played four games each after North Korea pulled their team from the Championships in the final days leading up to the championship.

The team's management and coaching staff led by Team Manager, Kevin Brown and Head Coach, Steve McKenna, were extremely pleased with the result despite not taking the Gold. After recording a 6 - 1 win against a tough Israeli team and coming back from a 3 - 0 deficit and taking a 4 - 3 lead well into the third period against the powerful and speedy home team Korean's, demonstrated Australia is rapidly building a squad for winning Gold in Division II and being promoted to and are capable of holding their position in Division I.

The Aussies are in a rebuilding phase with a number of younger players making the team for the first time. The "rookie" players -Aaron Clayworth (defence), Cass Delsar (forward), Davey Dunwoodie (defence), James Keane (forward), Tomas Manco (defence), Scott Stephenson and Todd Stephenson - quickly assimilated with the veterans and contributed both defensively and offensively to the team's result. There is a quiet confidence these players will be seriously considered for major playing positions on their AIHL team for the AIHL's 2008 season and will be further developing their playing skills.

The highly skilled and speedy line of Lliam Webster, Greg Oddy, Joey Hughes, the checking line of Chris Brlecic, Chris Sekura and Brett Thomas and the veteran scoring line of Murray Wand, Vladi Rubes and Brett Nelson-Bond will continue to contribute in future championships.

The veteran defensive unit of Anthony Wilson, Andrew White and Mark Rummukainen and second year - Josh Harding and goaltenders Matt Ezzy and Stu Denman shore up the team's defensive unit.

The team is already planning and preparing for the 2008 Championships, the location of which will be announced at the IIHF's Annual Congress in Moscow from the 10 - 12 May 2007.

Australia Go Down 5 - 4 to Korea in a Thriller

Ten seconds into the game and Korea struck for their first goal of the game on a breakaway. A minute later and they went up by two. At 6:47, Korea struck again to go ahead 3 - 0 with what appeared to be a run away goal scoring game. Australia called a time out to regroup. At the eight minute mark Hughes combined with Oddy to score Australia's first goal. A minute later Webster and Oddy combined to narrow the gap to 3 - 2. The first period ended at 3 - 2 in favour of Korea.

Both teams went end-to-end for most of the second period with a number of 5 on 4 and 5 on 3 man adavantges. Neither team were able to find the net. With two minutes remaining, Rummukainen rifled a shot on a pass from Rubes into the upper corner to tie the game. Second period ended with Australia gaining momentum and a tied game.

The third was a hard fought battle with either team unable to gain the advantage. Eight minutes in Australia got their go ahead goal with Wand scoring unassisted. Australia continued to carry the momentum until they suffered a two minute bench minor penalty followed by another seconds later for too many men. Korea quickly took advantage tying the game with eight minutes remaining followed by a go ahead and winning goal a minute later. Score 5 -4 Korea.

Shots on goal by Australia 31 and Korea 28.

Australia have three days off in preparation for their final contest against Mexico and Iceland. Australia needs to win both of their remaining games and Israel need to record an outright win over Korea for Australia to have any chance for Gold.

National Senior Team Announced For IIHF 2007 World Division II Championships In Seoul, Korea

Twenty four players have expressed interest for selection to IHA's 2007 National Senior Team. The team will be participating in the IIHF Division II World Championships in Seoul, Korea from 02 - 08 April 2007. Final selections have been completed and plans are underway for final preparation during March leading up to the departure to Korea.

After having missed out for Gold in two previous consecutive years, the team will again face tough opposition against Israel and Korea. Israel is the unknown factor after having dropped down from Division I in 2006. It has also been some years since Israel and Australia have faced each other in a World Championship. Australia defeated Korea 4 - 0 in Croatia at the 2005 Championships winning Silver and lost to them 5 - 3 in New Zealand at the 2006 Championships for Bronze.

The 2007 team is a blend of veterans and graduating national junior players. All have previous World Championship experience and are well informed for the task at hand.

For the first time ever, several impact players will be 'game ready' after having played an entire season in the North American and European Leagues. Predominantly, Australian players complete their season in September and do what they can to remain in playing condition. Only a few had played an entire season overseas leading up to the Championships.

The 2007 team will have impact players such as Greg Oddy - Royal Belgium League, Lliam Webster - Finland, Josh Harding - Holland, Joey Hughes - St Scholastica Saints, USA and Matt Ezzy, the team's leading goaltender playing in Serbia 'game ready' at the drop of the puck in the first game. In addition, all players received an extensive training program from Head Coach, Steve McKenna, former NHL'r with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

McKenna has extended invitation to ex Juniors, Aaron Clayworth ~ WASL Cockburn Hawks, Casey Minson ~ AIHL Newcastle Northstars and Tom Powell ~ AIHL Melbourne Ice to participate in the training sessions in preparation for consideration to the 2008 team and as reserves should a player suffer an unfortunate serious injury.

A final squad of nineteen skaters and two goaltenders have been selected to the 2007 team as per the following players:

Brlecic, Chris ~ AIHL Adelaide Avalanche

Delsar, Cas ~ AIHL Adelaide Avalanche

Denman, Stu ~ AIHL Melbourne Ice (Goaltender)

Dunwoodie, David ~ AIHL West Sydney Ice Dogs

Ezzy, Matt ~ AIHL Newcastle Northstars (Goaltender)

Harding, Josh ~ AIHL Adelaide Avalanche

Hughes, Joey ~ AIHL Melbourne Ice

Keane, James ~ AIHL Adelaide Avalanche

Manco, Thomas ~ AIHL West Sydney Ice Dogs

Nelson Bond, Brett ~ AIHL Sydney Bears

Oddy, Greg ~ AIHL Adelaide Avalanche

Rubes, Vladi ~ AIHL Sydney Bears

Rummukainen, Mark ~ AIHL Brisbane Blue Tongues

Sekura, Chris ~ AIHL West Sydney Ice Dogs

Stephenson, Scott ~ AIHL West Sydney Ice Dogs

Stephenson, Todd ~ AIHL West Sydney Ice Dogs

Thomas, Brett ~ AIHL West Sydney Ice Dogs

Wand, Murray ~ AIHL Sydney Bears

Webster, Lliam ~ AIHL Melbourne Ice

White, Andrew ~ AIHL West Sydney Ice Dogs

Wilson, Anthony ~ AIHL West Sydney Ice Dogs

Team Officials

Don Rurak ~ Chef de Mission

Kevin Brown ~ Team Manager

Head Coach ~ Steve McKenna

Assistant Coach ~ Anthony Wilson

Sports-Med Officer ~ Fred Stevenson

Equipment Officer ~ Ray Sheffield