IHA’S 2009 National Inline Team Remain in Division I
Ice Hockey Australia's 2009 National Inline Team remain in Division I after recording a 15 - 7 victory over Chinese Taipei. On completion of the Championship Austria is promoted to the Top Division with a 2 - 1 score over Great Britain, Brazil took Bronze with a 4 - 3 score over Hungary. Taipei and South Africa are relegated to Qualifications for 2010.
Australia led 5 -1 in the first period with Luke Fritchley leading the charge with two goals. In the second period, Australia extended their lead to 9 - 1 followed by 12 - 2 score at the end of the third. The game ended with Taipei outscoring Australia 5 - 3 in the fourth for a final score of 15 - 7 for Australia.
Lee McLauchlan and Sean Jones recorded ‘hat tricks', with Jordan Gavin, Luke Fritchley and Peter Matus notching pairs. Michael Casaceli, Tony Collins and Aubyn Martin added the singles. Goaltender, Dean White faced 26 shots.
IHA 2009 National Inline Team Lose
Two-In-a-Row
Team Australia's losses to Austria 7 - 0 placed them against Hungary and a chance for a medal at the IIHF 2009 World Division I Inline Hockey Championships. Although a win would have elevated Australia against the top seven teams in the Top Division, their chances of remaining there is extremely limited. Therefore, the game was not a disappointing loss to the team as they learned much from the competition as they prepared for their next game against Team Hungary.
After missing the medal round for the first time in seven years last season, and losing their first two games of the championship, Hungary desperately wanted back in the Division I semi-finals and a chance for promotion to the Top Division for 2010. Team Australia also had the same ideas, if not for the Top Division then a medal in Division I at the very least.
The first half of the game was the lowest scoring of this championship as Australia held a slim 1-0 lead at the half way mark thanks to a wrist shot by Peter Matus midway through the second quarter. In the third quarter, Arnold Feil scored Hungary's first goal to even the score followed by another equalizer in answer to Stuart Collins' goal, tying the game. Collins struck again for Australia 2:58 into the fourth quarter to restore the one-goal Australia lead, but again Hungary had the answer when Hungary scored on the power play two minutes later when Enrico Bergamin was called for hooking.
Hungary's first lead came with just over five minutes left in regulation on another extra-man effort when Australia was called for "too many men" on the floor. Hungary added the 5-3 insurance marker thirty seconds later. Peter Matus put in another goal for Australia at the 45:09 mark to again make it a one-goal game. but it would be as close as the Aussies would come in their bid to reclaim the lead as the clock ran out.
For Australia the loss ends a two-year run of playing in the semi-finals, while on the Hungarian side the win is redemption for both a slow start to this year's championship and last year's all-time low 14th-place finish.
Australia now meets Chinese Taipei in their bid to remain in Division I for 2010. They have every chance in achieving the objective as they won 18 - 3 earlier in the championship.
IHA 2009 Inline Team Wins Thriller Against Team Japan
IHA's 2009 Inline Team have started their participation in the IIHF's 2009 World Inline Hockey Championships with a thrilling shootout win of 5 - 4 against arch rivals Team Japan after being down 3 -1 in the 2nd period.
Sean Jones put Australia on the board early in the first period. Team Japan replied to end the period at a 1 - 1 tie.
Team Japan found the mark twice in the 2nd period to take a 3 - 1 lead before Australia's Oli Rozdarz found the net late in the period to narrow the gap 3 - 2 in Japan's favour.
Australia's Mike Casaceli tied the game 3 - 3 early in the 3rd. Japan went ahead minutes later on a power play goal when Tony Collins was called for interference. The period ended 4 - 3 for Japan.
At 42:43 of the 4th period, Jordie Gavin on a passing combination from Peter Matus and Mike Casaceli, tied the game 4 -4. Neither team were able to score for the remainder of the period sending the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, both teams battled for the sudden death goal but were unable to find the mark resulting to determine the winner in a shootout. Jordie Gavin did the honors for Australia to give Australia the 5 - 4 win.
In Australia's second game against Chinese Taipei, Australia outshot their opponents 61 - 19 to record a 18 - 3 win.
Australia's next game is on Tuesday the 09th June 2009 against Team Austria who recorded a 8 -1 win over Team Japan.
