If the presence of Russia in the Olympics remains unknown, its suspension and that of the Bélarus were extended until 2026 by the IIHF. What if, by a foot-of-one in history, their absence allowed Ukraine to return to the world elite? The hypothesis seemed a little daring, since the Ukrainians have just raised the IB division. Two promotions immediately, this does not seem so impossible since Great Britain did in 2018.
day after day, the yellow and blue turned out to be very solid. They pushed the shots to the goal of Great Britain (defeat) then Italy (victory). To celebrate the birthday of their captain Igor Merezhko, they then laundered their Romanian hosts 4-0-the organizers of the competition with whom they set up their preparation. They find themselves in the race before a key match against Poland, their neighbor with whom the meetings are always very tight.
Róbert Kaláber, the Slovak coach of Poland, this time chose the veteran Canada-Polish John Murray in the cages. He also changed his lines after the defeat against Italy, both in defense and in attack. He moved Kamil Sadlocha to prevent him from finding himself in front of the first Ukrainian trio which made a very strong impression (Deniskin-Zakharov-Borodai), admitting hoping that he can make the difference in the second line with Alan Lyszarczyk. The association of these two men is not created in a first closed period, where the Poles still practice a passive and not very creative game.
In this real chess, the slightest error counts. Impeccable defensively for twenty minutes, the Poles concede two counterattacks to the recovery, but Murray interposes both in Trakht and in front of Zakharov. And if Ukraine lifts its arms after an individual high -flying action by Evgen Fadeyev which has beautifully feigned not then Ciura, the referees consider by watching the video that Denyskin raised his skate to take up the puck and that the goal must therefore be canceled. The events are linked in any case quickly, far from the start of the boring match. The first fault is whistled against Denyskin (tripping). A minute later, Sadlocha receives a transverse pass from Dziubinski during a change of Ukrainian line and then made an abandonment pass for Alan łyszczarczyk which places his wrist shot (photo below).
Living in the score, Poland can put the barbed wire and its conservative game. But Ukraine uses it on a long sequence installed in the offensive zone. Viktor Zakharov ends up scoring while goalkeeper John Murray is no longer in a position and Zygmunt lost his balance and fell on the ice (1-1).
From the start of the third period, an Igor Merezhko’s wrist shot the post. It did not go far, but then Ukraine has a maximum success. The launch swept away from Viktor Zakharov, served from behind the goal by Denyskin, beats Murray on the mitin side (1-2). Poland pushes to come back, but in vain, even during a penalty of Denyskin. A puck sent at the bottom of the area is won too easily in the area by Korenchuk facing a defensively too low bizacki. He can therefore take advantage of the defense bad placement to center towards Stanislav Sadovikov, whose goal is easy because Murray is masked by his own defender Mateusz Bryk (1-3). After a succession of clumsiness of his trio, Lyszczarczyk gives the puck back to Peresunko, the champion of… second Slovak division, who sends Trakht to close the score in escaped under the boots of Murray (1-4). Poles are eliminated.
Enduring and involved, the Ukrainians have demonstrated good physical condition and interesting qualities. But let’s take into account the feat! These players are under-rod. Many of them play in second divisions, such as defender Artem Hrebenyk in France among the Yetis in Mont-Blanc. Three of them are evolving with their opponent of the day in Poland … in clubs from the bottom of the table. This week, they surpass themselves to defend the colors of their countries bruised by war.
It only takes a very small point on Saturday against Japan (which has already ensured its maintenance by beating Romania this evening) and Ukraine will access the world elite. The British also need a point, facing an already eliminated Poland, to obtain promotion. Even if she wins her last match against Romania, Italy is therefore cruelly dependent on the failure of others if she wants to return to the highest level …
Designated game players: Mateusz Goscinski for Poland and Bohdan Dyachenko for Ukraine.
Poland-Italy 1-4 (1-0, 0-2, 0-2)
Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at Sfântu Gheorghe (Rou). 2355 spectators.
Referees: Mark Pearce (CAN) and Marcus Wannerstedt (NOR) assisted by Renars Davidonis (Let) and Gasper Jaka Zgonc (SLO).
Penalties: Poland 4 ′ (0 ′, 4 ′, 0 ′); Italy 4 ′ (0 ′, 2 ′, 2 ′).
Shots: Poland 27 (7, 8, 12); Italy 21 (7, 7, 7).
Evolution of the score:
1-0 to 25’28 ”: łyszczarczyk assisted by Sadłocha and Dziubiński (Sup. Num.)
1-1 to 32’23 ”: Zakharov assisted by Denyskin and Sysak
1-2 to 43’08 ”: Zakharov assisted by Borodai and Denyskin
1-3 to 50’16 ”: Sadovikov assisted by Korenchuk
1-4 to 55’00 ”: Trakht assisted by Peresunko
Poland
Attackers:
Pawel Zygmunt (-1)-Dominik Paś (-2)-Bartlomiej Jeziorski (-1)
Alan Łyszczarczyk (-3)-Filip Komorski (A, -2)-Kamil Sadłocha (-3)
Patryk Krezolek – Damian Tyczynski – Krystian Dziubiński (C)
Mateusz Gosciński – Mikolaj Syty – Krzysztof Macias
Defenders:
Jakub Wanacki (-3) -Bartosz Ciura (A, -3, 2 ‘)
Olaf Bizacki (-1) – Mateusz Bryk (-1)
Kamil Górny – Michal Narga
Karol Biłas (2 ‘) – Mateusz Zieliński
Guardian :
Tomas Fucik
Remplaçant: John Murray (G). En réserve: Maciej Miarka (G).
Ukraine
Attackers:
Andriy Deniskin (+2, 4 ‘) – Viktor Zakharov (+3) – Denys Borodai (+2)
Danylo Trakht (+1) – Evhen Fadeyev – Ilya Korenchuk (+1)
Vitaly Lilaka (A, +1) – Stanislav Sadovkov (+1) – Oleksandr Peresunko (+1)
Oleksii Vorona – Ilarion Kuprianov – Oleksii Yanishevskyi
Defenders:
Ivan Sysak (+2) – Igor Merezhko (c, +2)
Artem Hrebenyk (+1)-Filyp Pangelov-Yuldahsev (a, +1)
Evheny Ratushny (+1) – Hlib Varava Puis à 25’28 ”Oleksi Dakhnovsky (+1)
Guardian :
Bohdan Dyachenko
Replying: Alexander Levshin (G). In reserve: Pysaranko Serge (G), Cribopakin Crib (A, wound).
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