The Australian men’s national team have lost 2–4 to the Serbian men’s national team in their opening game of the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division II Group A tournament in Belgrade, Serbia. Australia’s goals were scored by John Kennedy and Jake Ruck with Ruck’s being his first at the senior World Championship level. The IIHF award for best Australian player of the match was given to goaltender Aleksi Toivonen.
In the other games of the day Croatia defeated Iceland 11–2 and the United Arab Emirates beat Israel 10–6. At the end of the first round Australia sits fourth on the standings while Croatia leads with three points. Australia takes on Croatia today for their second game of the tournament. The two teams recently competed in a pair of exhibition game with Croatia winning the first in a shootout and Australia winning the second in overtime. At the World Championships level, the two teams last met in 2023 where Australia lost 4–6.
Results
Croatia
11–2
Iceland
SOG: 37
(4–0, 4–2, 3–0)
SOG: 25
– Game details: 12:30, 21 April 2024, Pionir Ice Rink. Game card.
United Arab Emirates
10–6
Israel
SOG: 34
(2–2, 4–1, 4–3)
SOG: 38
– Game details: 16:00, 21 April 2024, Pionir Ice Rink. Game card.
Australia
2–4
Serbia
SOG: 18
(1–1, 1–2, 0–1)
SOG: 31
– Game details: 19:30, 21 April 2024, Pionir Ice Rink. Game card.
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