Skien 2024: The A-Pool is calling for Germany and Norway

It’s been only a temporary stop in the B-Pool for hosts Norway and Germany, who have both confirmed their place in the A-Pool next season by maintaining their 100 per cent winning records.

Germany claimed their place in the pool first with a comprehensive 18-0 victory against France, before Norway moved past Sweden 3-0 in an enthralling contest at a packed Skien Fritidspark. 

Germany back in A-Town

Knowing they needed just a win to make the step back up, Germany burst out of the blocks and by the end of the opening period held an eight-goal lead. Six different players got those eight, with Felix Schrader and Jan Malte Brelage scoring two apiece.

In the second 15-minute spell, France limited the damage with four conceded, Schrader and Brelage both confirming their hat-tricks in the process. And in the final third, Schrader got two more in a six-goal period that consolidated a sizeable victory.

Speaking after the game, Germany’s MVP Frank Rennhack was jubilant at a result that confirms their immediate future. “We are extremely happy; it was our main goal before we came here so we are looking forward to the final match tomorrow (against Norway). If you have the chance to win a gold medal, you give your best and you try to get it.”

France’s MVP Nicolas Forgacs also had positives for a France side who recorded a massive victory against Great Britain two days earlier. “It was very difficult, but we were focused until the last second. We must play at a high level so today against Germany was, if I can say, a good training! So, we have to think about it (vs. Kazakhstan) and to play at a high level if we want to win.” 

French head coach David Lemetais added: “We are here to play games. And against Kazakhstan it will be a very, very important game. And we want to win, for sure.”

Amazing home fans

If you are three games into the tournament without conceding a goal, you are doing something very right. And if you make it four games and into the final day, you are practically playing on another planet. Norway have ticked that final box.

The B-Pool hosts have been stunning throughout the week and were given their toughest test yet when coming up against neighbours Sweden in the final match of Friday evening. In a tournament first, there was not a single goal in the opening period as although Norway pressured, a determined Sweden held out.

The second period changed that though, as three goals finished this one off. Audun Bakke – who would be voted Player of the Match – got two of them, with the first coming just over a minute after the restart. And it was rounded off by Martin Varnes, with no further goals coming in the third period. 

It confirms that Norway’s stint in the pool was just temporary, a fact captain Ola Oiseth was incredibly proud of after emotional celebrations. “It was everything we hoped for, again a clean victory. It feels great to be back in the A-Pool and to be able to do it in front of this amazing home crowd that came here today.

“The support we get from our families and friends, the people in and around the community of Para Ice Hockey, we really draw energy from what we get. What you see here is really the culmination of the whole season, and just the whole careers of the guys on the ice. What you won't see here is the hours people have driven guys to and from practice and supported everyone. So, to be able to give back to all the family and people supporting us, it's what really makes this sport the best sport in the world.”

First win for Kazakhstan 

In the opening encounter of the day, it was the meeting of two sides still searching for their first win as Great Britain took on Kazakhstan. And despite a resurgent second period, it was Kazakhstan who came out on top with an 8-3 win.

In a tight first 15 minutes, the side in blue got the only goal as Kuat Karipbayev swept in from close range after a prolonged spell of pressure. 

In the second, Kazakhstan added two more courtesy of Aidos Toktarbayev and Zhanibektarhan Bexultan, before GB kicked on. Ben O’Brien cut the gap after a mistake in the Kazakh defence, before Karl Nicholson hit home from close. Maxat Miyanov stretched the lead back to two before heading into the final third.

And it was there that they took the game away from Great Britain, as despite a second Nicholson strike, three more from Bexultan and a second for Karipbayev rounded off the 8-3 win that takes Kazakhstan above GB ahead of their final game against France. 

GB’s head coach Peggy Assinck knows that despite the loss, there are still a world of positives to take from the week so far. “We’re all losing our voices for the enthusiasm out there. New athletes, athletes who have been in the sport for a very long time, we really pushed and put everything we had out there today. The team as a whole is really, really proud and we’re really excited about the future of this team. 

What’s coming up on the final day?

Saturday is the final day of action in Skien, and it ends with the almighty clash of top two Germany and Norway. Great Britain face off against Sweden whilst France and Kazakhstan go head-to-head for a fourth-spot finish. 

How to Follow?

You can follow all the action on the World Para Ice Hockey Facebook page and across the Paralympic Games YouTube. Don’t miss the grand finale!