Speedy Slovenia won in Division I.
The match was a dream start for the host Slovenia. Jan Urbas took the ball from the Hungarians for the opponent’s net and passed it back to Žiga Jeglič, who scored the ball into the net after 31 seconds of the game.
Most of the first 10 minutes of the match ran in one direction and when the Slovenians got their first strong game after 11 minutes, it did not make the task easier for the Hungarians.
However, at 15:06 they took advantage of one of their rare opportunities in a period of quick attack when Istvan Terbocs sent a midfield pass into the crease and Csanad Erdely deflected the shot and tied the match to one to the great delight of about one. a third of the crowd of 4,200 fans in the full Tivoli Hall in Ljubljana.
Hungary started the middle better, but the Slovenians took advantage of the first two opportunities for two goals.
At 6:45 Sabolic brought the ball into the net to Rok Ticar, who saved the shot and sent the ball back to Sabolič. This time he shot himself and hit.
Only five seconds later it was already 3-1 for Slovenia and the Slovenian folk song, which serves as a goal, back from the speakers. The Hungarians won the confrontation, and defender Milan Horvath was the last to lose the puck against Žiga Panc, who took the opportunity for Slovenia’s third goal.
In the third period, the Hungarian players cheered for Rasmus Kulmala’s goal at 4:59 just after the end of their power, but the Hungarians temporarily had six skaters on the ice. Instead of the Hungarian goal, the referees gave Slovenia power play, but they did not turn it around.
Despite the pressure on Hungary, Slovenia was in control of the match and after six minutes Anze Kuralt almost scored the fourth goal in the assassination.
In the last minutes, the 2 + 2 penalty for high posture against Balint Magos turned out to be expensive for Hungary. The Slovenians took advantage of both with goals from Sabolič and Ken Ograjenšek and increased the lead to 5-1 at 2:31 by the end of the match. The goals were scored in the span of nine seconds.
“It was an important match in front of our spectators. I think we controlled the match from the first minute and in the end it was a clear win. Congratulations to the whole team. We fought all 60 minutes and we didn’t give them a minute to return to the game, “said Slovenian captain Mitja Robar.
Slovenia will play its last match on Sunday night against Korea, but regardless of the result, it has been determined as the winner of the tournament and will receive gold medals and a trophy after the match. And a place among the top 16 countries at the IIHF 2023 Ice Hockey World Championships after a six-year hiatus.
“We also need to prepare mentally to be on a better level. You have to be in match A against these top teams, otherwise you have no chance. You just have to be ready and fight, ”Robar said.
Coach Kopitar agreed: “It is always a challenge for us. We don’t have as many players who could play at this level. We need to focus on all the details, on each player. We hope that everything will go well and that we will be able to compete with the best teams. ”
But first, the tournament will continue with two more days and three more matches in Ljubljana.
Lithuania will play for the bronze medal against Romania tomorrow, and Romania can prepare for the silver medal match against Hungary on Sunday if they beat Lithuania first in the regular time.