Team Iceland took the gold medal in the Young Men’s Division 3 (B Group) Ice Hockey World Championship in Mexico City. Iceland defeated tournament hosts Mexico in the final game, which promotes Iceland up into Division 2.
Team Iceland had all but obliterated the competition in their march to the top, with big wins over Israel (12 – 0), Ireland (22 – 0), and South Africa (14 – 2). However, Mexico also handily dispatched each of their opponents by considerable margins.
The final game concluded on Saturday, March 19, and the clash lived up to the hype. Iceland won the hard-fought game 4 – 3, in a dramatic overtime shootout.
Iceland came out to an early lead, scoring twice in the first eight minutes of the game. Mexico quickly fought back with a goal only 68 seconds later. Iceland responded with another goal, making it 3 – 1 at the end of the first period.
Mexico pushed back in the second period with two more goals. Iceland was unable to answer, ending the second period in a 3 – 3 tie.
Both teams battled throughout the third period, but were unable to score. After a scoreless overtime period, the game, and the gold medal, was left up to a one-on-one shootout in front of the 1,900 fans in attendance.
Neither team could hit the back of the net in their first two attempts, but Iceland’s Falur Guðnason finally got one past the goalie and clinched the title.
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Photo from Ice Hockey Iceland’s website
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