Great Britain 3-4 Korea

There was no calculator required to determine what was required for Great Britain to achieve promotion.

Only a regulation win against the top seeds Korea would propel Great Britain above their rivals to claim the coveted gold medal.

This wasn’t the gilt-edged opportunity of promotion like previous campaigns.

Facing a strong Korean team and having to win in regulation was always going to be a problematic task.

However, Great Britain has many players on their roster almost single-handedly capable of winning a game and having the most impressive goaltender between the pipes in a tournament of this nature is always a huge plus.

In these high-pressure games, remaining disciplined, staying true to your structure and seizing the moment at hand are all vital components.

As Great Britain coach Tom Watkins told me so eloquently on Friday, “Don’t be nervous about a big game, it’s why we play hockey.”

Could Great Britain finally get over the line in front of a packed crowd at Dumfries arena? The GB contingent had been unusually quiet to this point of the week but this was the game in which they could make a huge difference in support of GB as underdogs.

FIRST PERIOD

With both teams excellent frontrunners, the importance of scoring first and setting the tone could not be understated.

Jack Hopkins won the opening face-off which set in motion an excellent first shift by GB’s top line, resulting in a point shot by Archie Hazeldine being held by the Korean netminder.

Martin Grubb had the lines rolling early and Connor Lee was sent out for the third shift of the game, an indictment of his improving play through the tournament.

There were just two whistles through the opening five or so minutes as the teams combined for some fast-paced, end-to-end play.

Korea began to get on top from that point, earning zone entries with relative ease and beginning to test Norton, who remained solid and gave up nothing resembling a second opportunity.

GB’s best chances of the period arrived at the nine-minute mark.

A tip by Cameron Hamill from the slot went narrowly wide and the same player was denied on a chance slightly closer to the target, thirty seconds later after fine set-up work by Hopkins.

Korea broke the deadlock with seven minutes remaining in the frame.

It was disappointing from the host’s point of view as they lost a battle along the right wall, with the puck springing free to Sihwan Kim who scored with a low shot, beating Norton’s glove side.

Norton made a huge save two minutes later as Korea split the GB defence after transitioning with speed through the neutral zone

Three straight penalties ensued, leading to a 4-on-3 power play for Great Britain.

Teams rarely practise this format and you could tell as GB struggled to find chemistry until the two defencemen combined.

Hazeldine teed up Kell Beattie in the high slot and the Scottish native blasted home a one-time to tie the game at 1-1.I

It was the perfect riposte for the home team and sent them into the intermission with their tails up.

SECOND PERIOD

Norton came up with another key save just 26 seconds into the middle frame. Minjoon Huh was left alone in front direct from a face-off but the Bristol netminder robbed him with an incredible glove save.

A minuter later and the hosts came close to netting. A bad angle shot by Ben Brown created a frantic scramble in the crease with the puck not falling for anyone in a white jersey to strike home.

The home fans were lifted from their feet as GB would score twice in three minutes.

An incredible shift from the first line had near miss, after near miss but they would not be denied.

Hopkins scored down low in the left circle on another fantastic feed from Hazeldine.

Great Britain had Korea rattled for the first time in the tournament and duly scored a goal that the top-seeds netminder would want back.

Relentless work from the Osborn twins on the forecheck results in Dawson hamming the puck through the Korean netminder from close range.

The roar at the Dumfries IceBowl was deafening and engendered goosebumps as the realisation dawned that the hosts were a match for a talented Korean team.

It took the top seeds until the fifteen-minute mark to finally find their stride again and they began to stretch GB to the limit defensively.

Norton once more came up trumps with some key saves to deny a second goal being scored.

None better than the stop to rob Beomseok Kim from close range. The smash of his stick and the look to the heavens by The Korean forward showed how much Norton was fantastic at frustrating them.

THIRD PERIOD

Finley Bradon had a chance eighty seconds into the final frame to extend GB’s advantage.

In tight all alone but was unable to get enough mustard on his shot at full stretch.

The tension ramped up in the rink when Korea scored just inside five minutes to bring themselves within a single goal.

A bad line change by the hosts allowed Sihwan Kim to escape down the left wing unattended. Norton denied the winger once but could not repeat the trick as Kim scored on his own rebound.

Korea almost tied the game up immediately but Norton made a top-draw save to rob Hyuenseo Lee.

A power play for GB was cut short after forty-five seconds, although the penalty kill held firm to keep Korea at bay.

Great Britain continued to compete well at 5v5 and looked set to see out the victory until a hugely debatable tripping call gave Korea a man advantage with 7:15 remaining.

Sihwan Kim was the creator and Yuchan Kong provided the comprehensive finish to tie the game at 3-3.

The relief was palpable for the Korean team by the nature of their exuberant celebration.

Great Britain attempted to lift themselves for one last push in the tournament but created just one scoring chance of note. On a fortunate back-door play, the puck found its way to Keiran Chung.

Unfortunately, the defenceman snatched at the opportunity, snapping his shot wide of the target.

A Korea icing with 66 seconds left in regulation allowed GB to call a timeout and devise a plan with Norton pulled for an extra attacker.

Whatever the plan was, it sadly did not come to fruition as Sihwan Kim scored again to ensure not only a regulation victory but promotion back to Division 1, Group B.

Post Game Notes

A devastating and heartbreaking defeat for Great Britain, who to a man delivered their best performance of the tournament and deserved a kinder fate.

The line change for the second goal was the only error of note in an otherwise brilliant performance against a highly rated-opponent.

An emotional and drained-looking Martin Grubb had this to say post-game.

“We had them [Korea] worried for a long time after no one laid a glove on them, including Lithuania, all week.”

“We are devastated. I thought the boys were unbelievable. They pushed, they were disciplined, executed the system and we got ourselves in a great position.”

“I’m just proud of them [the players], proud of the event and it would have been super special for everyone to win here on home ice.”

Lithuania beat China in the final game of the tournament to claim silver, leaving Great Britain with a bronze medal.

Spain finally won a game at the fifth attempt but it wasn’t enough to stave off relegation. Goal-difference sent down the Spanish team as China and Netherlands stayed up by the skin of their teeth.