Team New Zealand Recap

Posted on 24/06/2011 by NZIHA

New Zealand loses in Overtime to Argentina in Game Five

(Taken from IIHF website)
They gave it their best - a huge thank you for your commitment

In a game for survival Argentina earned its first win against New Zealand, 6-5 in overtime, to keep its chances to avoid relegation alive.

Argentina had its closest game of the tournament against the Kiwis that earned a 3-0 lead after 16 minutes with goals from Trent Kemsley, Daniel Garrow and Jensen Taiapa-Skinnon.

The South Americans fought back and Hernan Insua Shanly cut the lead at 6:32 of the second period, and two minutes later Guido Marcolongo missed on a penalty shot.

Both teams changed goalkeepers for the second half of the game and Argentine captain Facundo Vadra capitalized on a power play at 3:31 of the third period.

Bevan Varney restored the two-goal lead at 7:53, but Sebastian Butos and Hernan Vigo Laborda made it 4-4 before the end of the third period.

New Zealand regained the lead in the fourth quarter with Garrow’s second goal, but at 5:58 Vadra also scored his second marker of the day to make it 5-5. The game went to overtime where Vigo Laborda scored his second goal for the 6-5 game-winner at 2:06 of the extra period.

For New Zealand the loss meant straight relegation while Argentina could hope to stay in Division I, but these hopes were destroyed with Croatia’s victory over South Africa.

Congratulations to the NZL  players of the "day as  listed below;

Game One: NZL vs Croatia - Bevan Varney

Game Two: NZL vs Hungary - James Trevena-Brown

Game Three: NZL vs Argentina - Julian Beardman

Game Four: NZL vs Austria - James Trevena-Brown

Game Five: NZL vs Argentina - Daniel Garrow

Final comment from Lewis Taiapa "...I am satisfied both with our perfomance at the tournament and the organisation. We liked it here in Pardubice....We had a good team though and I am proud of the players..."

The New Zealand Team will return "home" on June 28th