GB vs. Croatia

Team GB off to glorious start with victory over hosts

Croatia            1

Great Britain   4

Travelling to Zagreb for the World Championships, Team GB took to the ice against Croatia at the Dom Sportova Arena for their first game of the tournament with hopes of success; a gold medal and promotion available to the winning team at the end of the competition. With Croatia boasting the talent of KHL forward Nathan Perkovich, alternate captain Mislav Blagus and superb shot stopper Mate Kresimir Tomlijenovic, Pete Russell’s team were aware that they would have to be at their best to beat the home side.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

In the opening stages of the game, it was Croatia who began with possession, Perkovich having an early attempt on goal before the skilled Ivan Jankovic took GB defenceman David Phillips by surprise, the small neutral zone taking some getting used to for the visitors. There was soon a switch in play however, as Luka Mikulic handed GB a power play on 1:51 following a check from behind on centre Matthew Myers; winger Marko Sakic visibly vexed by the decision as he too headed to the sin bin. Thirty seconds later, GB levelled the playing field when experienced defenceman Jonathan Weaver conceded a two minute slashing penalty to give the Croatians some reprieve.

Whilst both teams endured their punishment without conceding further, Croatian Kenny MacAulay appeared dominant, enjoying a considerable amount of ice time to have a shot on goal before the home side were forced back into their defensive zone, winger David Clarke hitting the puck wide of its mark.

Making life difficult for David Phillips, Perkovich continued in his efforts to pressure the defenceman. Soon though, the puck was back in the possession of Team GB as talented trio Robert Farmer, Colin Shields and Robert Dowd worked hard to light the lamp. A tripping penalty for Marko Tadic on 8:17 followed this neat passing to present GB with a power play and it was not long before the side came close to scoring on the advantage as Clarke fired a  one-timer at sturdy Croatian netminder, Tomlijenovic. Building on this play in their offensive zone, attempts from left winger Craig Peacock, Jonathan Phillips and Jonathan Boxill preceded a crossbar strike from Dowd who followed up this effort with a rocket from the left side which provided GB with the goal that they deserved.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Forty three seconds later, debutant Evan Mosey was shown to the sin bin for hooking and the forward was soon joined by team mate Ross Venus whose minor for high sticks reduced his team to three men. Taking little time to capitalise on this considerable advantage, Croatia found a way past netminder Ben Bowns through alternate captain Mislav Blagus to make it 1-1.

Shortly after GB’s return to full strength, it was the turn of Alan Letang’s Croatia to lose a man to the sin bin, this time the side conceding a bench minor for too many men on the ice. As GB sought to take control on the power play, Croatian netminder Tomlijenovic denied an attempt from Mosey, only to feel the full force of Ben O’Connor’s blue line shot smashing into his mask. The period almost over, Croatia were restored to full strength before the buzzer called a break in play, both teams filing from the ice with a goal apiece.

Play resuming, Team GB took to the ice with a view to regain the lead and the side made their objective clear with the creation of several chances in the opening minutes of the middle stanza, both Dowd and Myers setting their sights on goal. Eventually, GB reaped the rewards of their creativity as Weaver hit the top shelf to make it 2-1 in Great Britain’s favour. Buoyed by this lead, O’Connor fired another shot at Tomlijenovic to continue GB’s sustained pressured in Croatia’s defensive zone with blue liner Josh Batch, Robert Lachowicz and Boxill also prevented from scoring on the same shift. 

Though GB continued to drive into Croatia’s offensive zone, the puck was soon picked up by winger Matija Milicic who progressed to force a save from Bowns. However, as GB regained possession, the home side found themselves dealing with a two goal deficit when Russell Cowley successfully screened Tomlijenovic’s view, allowing Peacock to print his name on the score sheet with a little over thirty five minutes played. Twenty nine seconds later, a hooking call against Myers saw GB on the penalty kill but successful defending stopped Croatia in their tracks to allow Russell’s line-up to head in with a 3-1 lead.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Taking to the ice for the final instalment of the game, Croatia were handed another power play as GB’s Jonathan Phillips conceded an early penalty for interference with less than three minutes played. Some quick shifts allowed the visitors to combat Croatia’s offensive efforts, the side’s advantage soon cut short by left winger Luka Jarcov who took two minutes for holding to reduce his side to four men. Subsequent to this, GB returned to full strength to go on the power play, the side forcing pad saves from Tomlijenovic whose defence held out to keep GB at bay.

Both teams back to five men, Croatia took the opportunity to send Mike Glumac through on goal but the right winger’s slap shot was prevented by a diving Batch who threw himself in front of the puck to protect GB’s two goal lead. It was after this effort that GB were gifted one of their own as Colin Shields drove into Croatia’s defensive zone to punish the side further on 48:29. A little less than two minutes later, Ashley Tait found himself warming a seat in the sin bin having earned a penalty of 2+10 for hooking but, soon after this call, Croatia were reduced to four men to even up play.

As Lachowicz fired goalwards, it was the turn of Jarcov to take a puck to the body as the winger aided Croatia’s breakaway to Tadic who skated down the wing. This effort failing to trouble Bowns, Croatian Head Coach Letang called a timeout on 52:13 in a bid to alter the state of play whilst Clarke took to the sinbin following a hooking call. The team talks over, both outfits returned to the game with fervour and it was not long before a clash broke out, Batch and Perkovich making their feelings clear. With less than four minutes to go, there was just enough time for O’Connor’s shot to be tipped over the net and one last attempt from Jankovic before the game came to a close. GB’s 4-1 victory a great start to the tournament, it was Boxill who picked up a much-deserved Man of the Match award, Russell’s men sitting in third place with three points following this success.

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