01.12.2014 “Ugra” beat the USA team

Sledge hockey club “Ugra” won the international tournament which took place in the USA from November 28 till November 30.Sledge hockey club “Ugra” won the international tournament which took place in the USA from November 28 till November 30. 4 teams – “Almvile” (Canada), Buffalo Sabres (the USA), “Ontario” (the USA) and “Ugra” – took part in the competitions. Our team won all the matches without exclusions. The first match “Ugra” played the first match with the team of “Almvile” fromCanadawhichincludesseveralprizewinnersoftheParalympicGamesinSochi and one of the best players of the national team of Canada Brad Bowden. In the first period Ugra sledge hockey players played in the opponent’s zone imposing their playing style and tactics.There were many goal situations but a goal was not made. Statistics proved this fact. Our 18 shoots to the opponent’s net against two shoots of the Canadians. Thefirstperiodwasgoalless. Inthesecondperiodweaddedinmovementanditputtheopponentat a stand.And then four goals were made. Two goals were made by NikolayTerentiev after Konstantin Shikhov’s passes. Aleksey Petrov (assisted by Terentiev) and NikolayChukhontsev (assisted by Shikhov) also made two goals. Inthethirdperiod “Ugra” strengthened its leading positions. Our players managed to make five goals. NikolayTerentiev kicked two goals after NikolayChukhontsev’s passes, Mikhail Mokretsov also made two goals, Shikhov and Terentiev assisted him, and team captain KostyaShikhov made a goal after VolodyaLitvinenko’s pass. At the end of the third period Canadian players managed to make one goal. As a result the match ended with the score 9:1. The second match Onthesameplayingdayfourhourslater“Ugra”playedwiththehometeam "BUFFALO SABRES". ThefirstperiodUgrasledgehockeyplayersbeganplayinghardbecauseof tiredness but at the beginning of the match the initiative was taken by our team. Ugra players made many good attacks but the team of the USA was saved by the goaltender – gold medalist of the Paralympic Games in Vancouver Mike Blabac. But in the end of the period our team put the squeeze on the opponent. In this match the score was opened by Konstantin Shikhov after NikolayTerentiev’s pass. Inthesecondperiodourteamalsohadadvantageforcing its play upon the opponent. Theguysmademanymomentsandtheymanage to realize one of them. A goal was made by NikolayTerentiev with KostyaShikhov’s assistance. Inthethirdperiodour team followed the play to its logical end making a perfect goal. AsaresultUgrawon the match with the score 3:0. Accordingtothecoachesof “Ugra” thematchwasquickwithagreatamountofphysicalplaying: “The team of “Buffalo” includes three acting Paralympic champions, two of them Adam Page, Paul Shausand 4 winners of the world championships and Paralympic Games of the previous years. Thehostteamplayedthewholematchveryrough, breaking the rules and the referees allowed them to do this. But we waiting for this being in another country and playing against the home team.” Thethirdmatch Ontheseconddayofthecompetition “Ugra” alsoplayedtwomatches. AtfirsttheteamplayedwithCanadian“ONTARIO” which includes three athletes who won bronze medals in Sochi. The opponent did not disturb our team much. Our team won confidently with the score 6:1. Two goals were made by Shikhov after Kanatnikov’s passes. NikolayTerentiev (Litvinenko), AleksandrChalin (Chukhontsev), Mikhail Mokretsov (Chukhontsev) and Vladimir Litvinenko made four goals. Ourteamtookthefirstplaceinthegrouphaving 9 pointsand came through to the semi-final. Semi-final Inthesemi-finalourteamplayswithaknownopponent – theteamof “Almvile”.The match was dynamic, interesting with many attacks and, certainly, a firework of goals. Hat tricksweremadebyNikolayTerentiev(Litvinenko, Litvinenko - Chukhontsev, Batyuk - Shikhov) and Konstantin Shikhov (Mokretsov – Terentiev, Litvinenko), Aleksey Petrov (Litvinenko – Terentiev), AleksandrChalin (Chukhontsev), NikolayChukhontsev (Terentiev – Shikhov) made three goals. The opponent managed to make two goals.InthefirstcaseBradBowdenslipped between our two defensemen and made a goal from close distance. Andinthethirdperiodonemoregoalwasmade. “Ugra” wonwiththescore 9:2. Final InthefinalmatchforthefirstplaceoursledgehockeyteamplayedagainsttheteamofBuffalo SABRES (the USA). AccordingtothecoachesUgra players were said that today the referees would do everything and even more to make “Ugra” to lose this match: “Free show began at the first minutes.Wewereremovedfor nothings. It seemed that the rules were created on the fly. But the play against our team was rough and even without any rules!!!For three periods we had 27 minutes of penalty and the host team – 6. Nevertheless, the guys played very well. Theyshowedexcellentplay, strength and power of Russian people!The score was 6:2 and we proved that we were the best! Hat trickswere made by NikolayTerentiev and Konstantin Shikhov. Goaltender Sergey Badaev also played very well.”