SOFIA - Today, April 27, the Belgian men's team played its fourth match at the IIHF World Championship Division 2, Group B in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The opponent this time was New Zealand.
The Belgians dominated the entire match and didn't give an inch so the All Blacks couldn't get a puck past Belgian goalie Lievens (#1/BEL). With 40 shots on goal versus 12, the Belgians were without a doubt the most dominant team on the ice. The first goal fell again early in the first period, scored by Henry (#15/BEL) on an assist from De Smet (#19/BEL).
However, it wasn't until the second period that the Belgians really got going. De Smet (#19/BEL) outsmarted goalie Kersco-Magos (#20/NZL) in the fifth minute, but ten minutes later the fence was completely drawn. In just five minutes, the Belgians skate an almost unbridgeable gap by scoring three goals. De Croock (#8/BEL) hits the opponent’s net twice in three minutes, while again De Smet (#19/BEL) ends the period with a fifth goal for Team Belgium with less than a minute on the clock.
In the final period, Boni (#15/BEL) scores the Belgians' sixth and final goal. A fourth victory in a row for the Belgians who meanwhile lead the standings and are unbeatable with the acquired 12 points. Promotion to DIV2A beckons!
Final score: NZL vs. BEL: 0-6 (0-1; 0-4; 0-1)
MVP Team BEL: Oliver De Croock (#8/forward)
Match Schedule
22/04 – 15:30 – BEL vs. TUR: 8-0
23/04 – 19:00 – BEL vs. BUL: 11-1
25/04 – 15:30 – BEL vs. TPE: 8-1
27/04 – 12:00 – NZL vs. BEL: 0-6
28/04 – 19:00 – GEO vs. BEL