Italy hit twelve, Kazakhstan caused an upset and Great Britain was shut out on an eventful day one.
Disappointment and frustration were the two clear emotions of the host nation after losing to Latvia. The process was good for much of the game but missed the clinical edge required in tournament play.
“Obviously we are disappointed. I thought we played really well and outshot them [Latvia] by forty shots. It’s tournament hockey and it’s all or nothing as you play each team once. Unfortunately, today wasn’t our day.” – Jodie Alderson-Smith.
“It’s a tough loss. In the first period, I was really pleased with the performance and I felt on another day we would have been three or four up heading into the intermission. In the second period, I felt we lost our shape as we started to push as we hadn’t scored despite so many shots. We tried to do too much, got caught and then we were chasing the game. The penalty kill was 4-for-4 and I thought we looked strong. On the power play, there were good signs but it’s a work in progress.” – Sean Alderson.
Great Britain 0-3 Latvia
FIRST PERIOD
Great Britain produced a near-perfect first-period performance without making it count on the scoreboard. They spent large chunks of time in the offensive zone without creating as many Grade-A scoring chances as the coaching staff would have liked.
It was almost the dream start on home ice.
With forty seconds on the clock, Ruby Newlands showed a burst of speed on a broken play to leave her in a 1v1 situation. After beating her opponent, Newlands rang a shot off the inside of the post and though it looked close to the goal line, the officials decisively ruled out a goal.
A high-sticking infraction by Robin Mullin twenty seconds later put GB on the backfoot. The penalty kill stepped up by doing a highly efficient job as Latvia could not register a single shot on Nicole Jackson.
The wave after wave of attack was no better encapsulated than the terrific shift starting at the five-minute mark.
GB even changed on the fly as they dominated possession and the zone for over ninety seconds.
Louise Adams might feel she should have done better after a steal in the left circle but her shot nestled into the crest of the Kristiana Apsite.
Bethany Hill was next up and deked out one opponent before wildly firing high on another quality scoring chance.
The hosts earned a late power play. Although they owned the zone, GB were unable to sustain pressure and force the important opening goal.
SECOND PERIOD
A bright start to the period for GB was halted by an illegal hit from Adams.
The penalty kill stood tall for a second time and generated two scoring chances.
Katie Marsden sprung on a partial breakaway but her backhand effort was gloved, From the resulting face-off, GB pounced on a giveaway but against the effort was smothered from close range.
Latvia’s best shift of the game arrived at the nine-minute mark and Nicole Jackson was forced into a sharp double save. It was a warning shot across the bow.
The host’s power play went to work soon after without success, again not putting sustained pressure on the visiting netminder.
The crucial first blow was struck by Latvia. Linda Rulle’s strong drive to the net and resulting shot produced a rebound in the slot.
Karina Silajane pounced first and swept the puck around Nicole Jackson.
GB attempted to muster a response but it was the same story. A 2v1 break led by Aimee Headland ended up in the glove of the Latvian netminder with no rebound on offer.
A late strike by Latvia put them firmly in control. GB won’t be happy with the process leading up to it as they lost a battle along the left boards and proceeded to leave Silajane unattended in the high slot. It was a beautiful finish to beat Nicole Jackson on the blocker side but it was a gift.
THIRD PERIOD
Great Britain ran out of puff in the final frame as frustration appeared to take hold of the host nation.
Had one of the two Grade-A chances been taken perhaps the outcome might have been different.
On an early power play, Aimee Headland had a glorious chance in tight with the Latvian netminder prone on the ice. An elevated shot would have halved the deficit but Headland could only send the puck into the glove hand by the near post.
The effervescent Marsden was a standout for Great Britain offensively but even she couldn’t find the net on a short-handed chance from the high slot, sending the puck into the breadbasket with no rebound.
Latvia wrapped up the points with a third goal through Liga Miljone with five minutes remaining.
POSTGAME NOTES
Lilly Endicott and Emma Lamberton made their senior debuts for Great Britain.
Korea 2-4 Kazakhstan
FIRST PERIOD
The opening game of the tournament wasn’t high on quality but provided drama and an upset.
Kazakhstan started the brighter, but neither Malika Aldabergenova nor Alexandra Shegay could capitalise on chances inside five minutes.
At the first official whistle of the period, the Korean head coach had seen enough. He called a timeout, cleared the bench and the players sat kneeled on the ice for what I presume to be a wake-up call.
It had little effect as Kazakhstan should have opened the scoring ninety seconds later had Pernesh Ashimova not whiffed on a Grade-A chance from the slot.
Against the run of play, Korea broke the deadlock with 8:35 remaining. Jongah Park scored from close range after a scramble in which the Kazakhstan netminder made three consecutive saves.
That turned the tide as Korea took control, albeit aided by some sloppy play from the previously dominant Kazakhstan.
The tying goal also came against the run of play in a strange opening period. Yuliya Butorina’s point shot found the net assisted by an excellent screen.
Arina Chshyokolova produced three excellent saves in the final five minutes of the frame to deny Korea from re-establishing a one-goal lead.
SECOND PERIOD
Kazakhstan was guilty of more sloppy play early in the frame but produced an excellent penalty kill when required.
The lower seeds took the lead against the run of play with a fine goal off the rush.
Munira Sayakhatkyzy found the roof of the net after good work from twin sister Dilnaz, and Sofiya Zubkova.
Korea’s response was lacklustre though their most dynamic player almost created something from nothing.
Jongah Park beat two opponents but sent her shot into the glove hand of the Khazakhstan netminder.
THIRD PERIOD
Parity was restored twenty seconds into the final frame.
A giveaway in the high slot wasn’t immediately punished but on the second attempt, Eunji Lee slotted home.
Two minutes later Kazakhstan scored a bizarre game winner.
A shot wide off the rush smashed off the backboards but Korea’s netminder and defenders looked bemused as to where the puck landed. That left Nadezhda with a tap-in in bizarre fashion.
Two minutes passed before the Korean coach opted to switch goaltenders in another odd decision by the top seeds.
Kazakhstan made victory certain with ten minutes remaining, capitalising on ill-discipline from Korea.
Anna Pyatkova slapped home during a 5-on-3 power play to the eleation of her teammates.
A penalty with three minutes remaining killed any hopes of a comeback for Korea in a mystifying and disappointing performance from the nation relegated from tier two last year.
Italy 12-0 Slovenia
FIRST PERIOD
The difference in class between these two nations was clearly evident in the opening 55 seconds.
The only surprise was that it took Italy six minutes to get on the board.
Carola Saletta scored on a rebound to break a desperate Slovenian team. Less than sixty seconds later it was clear that the damn had been breached.
Aurora Abatangelo netted from the slot on a beautiful feed from Manuela Heidenberger.
After eight minutes of restbite, Italy struck for a third time.
Samantha Gius scored on a feed from Marta Mazzocchi on a similar play to the second goal.
Slovenia wired a rebound chance wide of the target on a power play in the dying seconds and worse was to follow.
SECOND PERIOD
The ice was firmly tilted in the middle frame as Italy carved Slovenia apart and ran them ragged on the long change.
Italy set up came in the offensive zone and wore down their opponent with wave after wave of attack.
Abatangelo struck for a second time and Franziska Stocker scored on the power play as Italy built a 5-0 lead after thirty minutes.
Italy continued its relentless pursuit of goals and struck a further three times before the intermission buzzer sounded.
Amie Varano, Rebecca Roccella and Manuela Heidenberger all got on the scoresheet as Italy felt they could score at will.
THIRD PERIOD
There was no let-up by Italy but Slovenia were extremely tired and starting to make mental errors.
Calamitous defending allowed Saletta to score a comical goal.
Matilde Fantin scored a long-range effort as Italy hit double figures.
Amie Varano’s effort from an odd angle hit a defender’s leg to make it 11-0 and Mia Campo Bagatin made it twelve to cap an impressive opening day for the tournament favourites.
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