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- Italy Claims European Crown
It is an amazing feat considering the country only started playing the sport in time for the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games.
At the 2011 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey European Championship in Solleftea, Sweden, Team Italy caused two major upsets to become the new European Champions.
Tipped by a minority as outsiders, and at best a medal hope before the Championships, the Italians finished second in group B and produced a huge shock by defeating hot favourites Norway 2:1 in the semi-finals.
Against Norway, who had scored 44 goals and conceded just three in winning their group, the Italians fell a goal behind but fought back with goals from Florian Planks and Andrea Chiarotti to secure a famous victory.
In the final Italy played the Czech Republic who had beaten them 3:0 in the Group stages. Gregory Leperdi opened the scoring and then Florian Planks’ goal secured a 2:0 European title victory. It is an amazing feat considering the country only started playing the sport in time for the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games.
