IIHF U20 World Championship Division I
Group A in Bad Tolz, Germany
The IIHF U20 World Championship Division I Group A is underway and will last from Dec. 9-15, in the Bavarian town of Bad Tolz, Germany.
Germany (relegated from the top division), Austria, Ukraine, Poland, Norway and Lithuania (promoted from Division II) will play a single round-robin. The winner will move up to the 2009 IIHF World U20 Championship in Canada. The team ending in last place will be relegated to Division II.
For rosters, game sheets, standings and statistics, click here. | | 
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Day 1: December 9, 2007Norway - Ukraine 3-0 (1-0, 1-0, 1-0)
Team Norway opens the tournament with an important 3-0 win over Ukraine, an opponent with the better classification one year before.
Even though the Norwegians got off on the wrong foot collecting two penalties in the first minutes, it was Ken Olimb, who scored the first goal shorthanded after 3:48 minutes. Forward Patrick Nilsen extended Norway's lead after three minutes in the second period. Mats Froshaug made use of the fifth and last power play situation for the Norwegians scoring the 3-0. Goalkeeper André Lysenstoen, who played just one game on an U20 World Championship before, could celebrate a shutout with 19 saves.
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Lithuania - Germany 1-7 (1-3, 0-0, 0-4)
Clear favourite Germany convinces its crowd of 750 spectators in Bad Tolz with a 7-1 slam against freshly promoted Lithuania.
The hosts outshot the Lithuanians 53-7 leaving no doubt, which of both teams is running for the promotion. Arnoldas Bosas scored the only goal for the Balts equalising the game 1-1 at 13:03. The forward scored with a power play goal as did the Germans Daniel Weiss, Latvia-born Arturs Kruminsch, and Patrick Hager. After a scoreless second period, Germany finished the game with four more goals by Maximilian Brandl, Jerome Flaake, Constantin Braun and Frank Mauer. Head coach Ernst Hofner could give much ice time to anyone against a dominated opponent. With Flaake and Weiss, two 17-year old forwards belonged to the scorers.
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Poland - Austria 1-6 (0-2, 0-1, 1-3)
Team Austria confirmed its ambitions by outclassing Poland 6-1.
It was a tight first period with 11-10 shots in favour for the Austrians, but they demonstrated effectiveness. Daniel Oberkofler opened the score while both teams were having four skaters on the ice at 7:02. Together with Kristof Rheintaler's powerplay goal at 13:10, it was the key to Austria's success. Michael Raffl in the second, along with Raphel Herburger, Andreas Reisinger and Michael Schiechl in the third period demolished the Poles with four more goals in full strength. Krystian Dziubinski scored the only goal for the Poles with the 5-1 at 53:23. Goaltender René Swette was awarded as Austria's best player with 23 saves.
MARTIN MERK | |
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