Out of the Limelight, Czechs Gain Ground

With all the build-up about the anticipated rematch between the United States and Canada in Friday’s gold medal final, no one has paid much attention to the other teams at the In-Line Hockey World Championship.

Both the United States and Canada won again Monday. The United States (5-0) beat a tough Finland team, 7-4, and finished atop Group A. Canada (4-1) rebounded from its 9-6 loss to the United States by hammering Russia, 12-6.

Nevertheless, it might be time for the North American powers to look over their shoulders. After the final night of pool play in the International Ice Hockey Federation-sponsored competition at Disney Ice neither is atop the leader board in goal differential.

That honor belongs to Group B champion the Czech Republic (5-0), which defeated Italy, 6-2, Monday. The Czechs have scored 64 goals and given up 19, best in both categories.

And while you can argue that Group B was much weaker than the Canadian-American dominated Group A, the Czechs qualified for the sixth and final spot in the medal round. With a victory over Switzerland on Wednesday, the Czechs would get a shot at the United States.

“Last year we came here and we didn’t have the players developed for roller hockey,” Czech Republic Coach Ladislav Tresl said. “But this year I am very proud of this team. We came here prepared and I believe this team can get very far.”

Under heavy stick-checking in the second quarter, Italy had trouble getting out of its zone. Body checking is forbidden at international in-line events, but the Czechs may be the best in the tournament at initiating contact without being penalized. And with U.S. Coach Roy Sommer watching closely, they used that ability to take a 5-1 halftime lead.

A 60-foot slap shot by Martin Masa put the Czechs up 3-1, and then a rough-and-tumble sequence in front of the Italian crease led to a goal by Marek Vorel with 49 seconds left in the quarter.

Vorel, who has eight goals and eight assists in the tournament, wasn’t through. With seconds left on the clock, he took the puck from an Italian defender, skated in on goalie Gianluca Canei and drew him out before firing the puck over Canei’s stick hand.

“Right now we couldn’t be playing much better than we are,” Tresl said. “Our main thing was to get out of Group B and, so now we will give it our best shot.”

Play resumes Wednesday for all teams except the United States and Canada, who have already qualified for Thursday’s semifinal games.

In other games:

United States 7, Finland 4--Former Blade Chris Valicevic scored two power-play goals, breaking a 4-4 tie in the fourth quarter. Joe Cook added a goal with less than two minutes to play. Trailing, 2-1, the Americans scored three consecutive goals to finish the first half. Markku Takala ended a 30-minute Finnish dry spell by scoring 2 1/2 minutes into the final quarter and Kim Ahlroos tied it, 4-4, with 6:30 remaining.

Canada 12, Russia 6--This one had a Bullfrog flavor. Newly acquired winger Hugo Belanger had three goals for Canada, defender Doug McCarthy and forward Glen Metropolit each had two. The Bullfrogs are pursuing the rights to Metropolit from New Jersey.

Switzerland 9, Germany 5--Once thought to be a medal contender, Germany lost its fifth in a row and will not advance to the medal round.

The Netherlands 18, Japan 4--It could have been worse. Japanese goaltender Shuhei Kurokawa stopped 44 shots. Neither will advance to the medal round.

Austria 9, Australia 5--Forward Ewald Seebacher recorded a hat trick for the winner. Neither advances to the medal round.

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In-Line Hockey World Championship

GROUP A

Monday’s results

Canada 12, Russia 6

Switzerland 9, Germany 5

United States 7, Finland 4

*--*

Standings W L T Pts GF GA United States 5 0 0 10 54 22 Canada 4 1 0 8 56 30 Switzerland 2 2 1 5 35 40 Finland 2 3 0 4 30 36 Russia 1 3 1 3 26 44 Germany 0 5 0 0 24 53

*--*

No games today

GROUP B

Monday’s results

Netherlands 18, Japan 5

Austria 9, Australia 5

Czech Republic 6, Italy 2

*--*

Standings W L T Pts GF GA Czech Republic 5 0 0 10 64 19 Austria 3 1 1 7 36 29 Italy 3 2 0 6 32 23 Netherlands 1 2 2 4 41 40 Australia 1 3 1 3 33 44 Japan 0 5 0 0 18 69

*--*

No games today

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