NORWAY BEATS KOREA FOR BRONZE
WENDY GRAVES
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Magnus Bøgle and Morten Værnes scored less than three minutes apart in the second period to lead Norway to a 2-1 win over Korea in the bronze medal game at the 2016 World Sledge Hockey Challenge.
Bøgle and Værnes also each added an assist. Knut Andre Nordstoga had two assists.
Kjell Christian Hamar picked up the win in net.
The medal is Norway’s fifth at the event overall, and first since 2012, its last time competing at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge.
It was actually Korea jumping out to an early lead, scoring only 18 seconds after the opening puck drop. Ju-Seung Lee fed Seung-Hwan Jung just inside the top of the left circle. Jung fired high short side. That goal marked the first time Korea lead the entire tournament.
Korea nearly made it 2-0 five minutes later, when Woo-Chul Park wired a shot that beat Hamar, but not the post.
Min-Su Han almost doubled the Korean lead early in the second on the power play, but once again the post saved the Norwegians a goal.
Two goals in just under three minutes late in the second period then gave Norway control of the game.
After Norway controlled the puck off an offensive zone face-off, Bøgle shot high and tied the game at 1-1.
Hamar kept it that way by stoning Byeong-Soek Cho on a one-timer down low. Moments later, at the other end of the ice, Værnes finished off a centering pass from Bøgle to give Norway the lead.
Norway appeared to take a two-goal lead midway through the third period, but had a goal waved off because the puck was deflected in with a high stick.
Korea had burned itself throughout the week with too many penalties; it had allowed 10 goals on 16 opposition power plays. Today, it killed both minors it was called for.
On the other side, Norway stayed out of the penalty box; it had been whistled for only five minors and killed them all off. But four minutes into this one it took the first of six penalties on the day.
A holding call on Værnes with seven minutes to go in regulation could’ve proved costly. Jong-Kyung Lee was awarded a penalty shot, but was denied by Hamar to preserve the lead.
Jae-Woong Lee took the loss in goal for Korea.
Name | Team | Mins | Shots | Saves | GA | SV% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jae Woong Lee | KOR | 45 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0.818 |
Kjell Christian Hamar | NOR | 45 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0.917 |