Monday, November 19, 2012

Showing Some International Love: Olympic Pre-Qualification - Group J Review

Note: all data from the IIHF website

Standings

1 (Qualify) - Great Britain      2W - 1OTL -0L - 7PTS - +3GD
2 - South Korea                   1W - 1OTW - 1OTL - 0L - 6PTS - +2GD
3 - Japan                      1W - 1OTW - 1L - 5PTS - +2GD
4 - Romania                   0W - 3L - 0PTS - -7GD

Results

November 9
Great Britain 4 - South Korea 5 (SO)
Japan 2 - Romania 0

November 10
Romania 0 - Great Britain 3
Japan 3 - South Korea 2 (OT)

November 11
South Korea 2 - Romania 0
Great Britain 2 - Japan 1

Notes
  • I put it as the upset game, but is anyone really surprised that a national team from England lost in a shootout?
  • It is amazing how South Korea didn't lose a (regulation) game and yet does not advance.
  • Former Kings goalie (and announcers nightmare) Fukufuji did all he could, but Japan just didn't have the firepower.
  • Kind of sad that Romania was not able to get 1 goal in this tournament. Their goaltending was the lone bright spot.
  • Goals Leader: Won Jung Kim (South Korea), Shuhei Kuji (Japan), Ben Connor (Great Britain) - 3
  • Points Leader: Sang Wook Kim (South Korea) - 6
  • GAA Leader: Yutaka Fukufuji (Japan) - 1.32
  • Save % Leader: Adrian Catrinoi Cornea (Romania) - 0.955
  • The "No Surprise" Game: Great Britain shutting out Romania 3-0
  • The "Upset" Game: South Korea beating Great Britain in the shootout 5-4
What Now?

Great Britain: Gearing up for the next qualifying round in February.

South Korea: Should build on this momentum for April. This was a great showing by this team, being able to hang around against the higher ranked Brits and Japanese squads.

Japan: Could not seal the deal in the last game. Will get ready for Division I Group A in April.

Romania: Will now focus on hanging around in Division I Group B. Maybe work on hitting the back of the net.

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