Friday, April 26, 2013

Slovakia remains in top division

Press Release 

Latvia has been relegated to Division I Group A following a 3-2 loss to Slovakia in the second game of the relegation round. Denmark will take Latvia's place at the 2014 U18 World Championship.
Slovak forward David Soltes scored the game winning goal in the third period and David Okolicany turned aside 27 of 29 shots to earn Best Player honours in what was a penalty-filled match for both teams.

The line of Dominik Rehak, Robert Lantosi, and captain Peter Cehlarik combined for four points in the game, Rehak and Lantosi each scoring a minute and a half into the first period as Slovakia jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Latvia came back late in the frame, first with a goal on a two-man advantage from Jareks Jaks and then an equal strength marker by Roberts Bukarts with 45 seconds left on the clock.

The game slowed down in the second period as a total of 14 penalty minutes were handed out between both teams. Then early in the third, Soltes’ goal assisted by linemate Robert Varga was the difference as Okolicany made ten saves in the frame to seal the win and keep Slovakia in the top division for next year.

Denmark will be the new entry in the 2014 IIHF U18 World Championship. The Danes won the Division I, Group A championship held earlier this month in Asiago, Italy.


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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