History for France in a Skien thriller

Though Norway and Germany both continued their perfect records, it’s France who are partying hardest after an overtime victory against Great Britain.

France makes history

If it’s drama you want, it’s drama that we brought. France and Great Britain battled out the game of the tournament so far in the afternoon tie, with overtime needed to seal a 3-2 France victory that will live long in the memory. 

Having pinpointed this as potentially their best opportunity for a victory, the two took to the ice at speed and it was France who struck first when Nicolas Navarro found space between two defenders and the goaltender in the fourth minute. 

GB hit back with a double from the veteran stick of Karl Nicholson, the second coming after a burst forward from Gary Farmer. And it looked like it would stay that way through the remainder of the second and 14 minutes of the third, only for late heartbreak to strike when Franck Cadonna breached the British backline with a shot from distance.

And in the first overtime of the tournament, the French secured a dramatic win through Roland Linier to send their bench (and the bleachers) wild. French goaltender Laurent Blavette was full of emotion post-match, exclaiming: “I feel very good, I did my best and had no place for a mistake. This is a reward for all the sacrifices, all the work schedules, all the sacrifices financially with our families. So, it’s a big, big reward. We have a day off tomorrow, but it’s a big, big win.”

The victory is the first ever B-Pool victory for France, and having come from behind to do so, it sets them up perfectly for potentially making more memories in their final two matches.

Germany keep it at 100

Germany maintained their 100 per cent record in the opening clash of the day, seeing Sweden off 4-0. 

The two came into this one with unbeaten records apiece, but Germany were the ones who left with it intact largely thanks to a strong first period that saw Felix Schrader and Bernard Hering take them into a two-goal advantage.

Schrader added another in the second – his 13th in three games – before Jan Bussman rounded things off in the third period for a comprehensive win. 

Ingo Kuhli-Lauenstein set two of the four up, and he knows it’s a win that puts them in a perfect spot with two left to play. “Sweden are very smart, so we are happy with the win. And we are ready for the next games here, taking it step-by-step and we hope to be able to have a nice final match on Saturday against Norway. And we’re happy for a rest day as well!”

Norway maintain a perfect sheet

Three games played. Zero goals conceded. Norway is enjoying this ‘hosting a World Championships’ thing. 

Fresh from welcoming Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit a night earlier to Skien Fritidspark, Norway confirmed their third win in three days and recorded another shutout in the process against Kazakhstan. 

Goals from Ola Oiseth, Morten Varnes and Loyd Solberg set the tone in the first period, and a Knut Andre Nordstroga strike in the second finished this one as a contest. A driven Kazakhstan side gave them their toughest test of the tournament so far, troubling home goaltender Andreas Sundt throughout the second and third. But it was Norway who would add to the scoresheet, an Audun Bakke double and one more from Oiseth sealing a 7-0 win.

Oiseth would be crowned Norway’s Best Player in this one, and the captain has eyes firmly on the two matches left to play. “We are just looking forward to playing Sweden and Germany. Both are teams we know well, but we hope we will get the hard battles. And we want five from five, we want to win every game. And I recommend all fans out there watch, because they’re going to be the games of the tournament.”

How it Stands?

In those all-important top two spots, it’s Germany and Norway who sit pretty in first and second respectively. Sweden lies in third, and France’s win takes them two spots higher as they rise above Kazakhstan and Great Britain thanks to their first victory of the Championships. 

And the standings won’t change until Friday, with Thursday the designated rest day in this competition.

How to Follow?

You can follow every single second across the World Para Ice Hockey Facebook page and the Paralympic Games YouTube. See you on Friday!