The Australian under-18 team have won the gold medal of the 2014 IIHF U18 World Championship Division III Group A tournament after defeating New Zealand 6-0 in their final game. The win which saw Australia finish the tournament three points clear of Israel in second place and earned them promotion to the 2015 IIHF U18 World Championship Division II Group B tournament. Australia took the lead early in the game with Hayden Sheard scoring the second minute. Sheard scored again in the eigth minute and Jake Knott got one past the New Zealand goaltender to finish the first period 3-0. Australia doubled their lead in the second period with goals from Kieren Webster, Luke Zvonicek and Casey Kubara. The third period remained scoreless with the game ending 6-0 and Nicholas Mizen recording the Australia’s only shutout of the tournament. Luke Zvonicek was named best Australia player for the game.
- Australia 6 – 0 New Zealand (20:00, 30 Mar 2014, Winter Sports Palace, Sofia). Game Card
In the other games of the day Chinese Taipei beat Mexico 2-1 and Israel finished with a 7-2 win against Bulgaria. Australia finished the tournament in first place on 12 points followed by Israel, Chinese Taipei, Bulgaria, Mexico and New Zealand. Following the completion of the tournament awards were handed out by the IIHF directorate with Daniel Pataky being named the Best Defenceman of the tournament. Best goaltender went to Bulgaria’s Dimitar Videnov and Ilya Spektor of Israel won the Best Forward award. Casey Kubara was selected by the coaches as Australia’s best player of tournament.
For more information see the IIHF website.
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