Inline team world's No. 8
THE Namibian Inline Hockey Junior Men’s Team has just participated in the FIRS World Championships in Philadelphia. Namibia was placed in Pool A along with teams from America, Great Britain, Switzerland and Mexico. Pool B comprised teams from Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, New Zealand and Columbia. The tournament format was based on a round robin game within each pool, with the top four teams qualifying for cross-pool competitions in quarter and semi final games.
On day one Namibia pitched against a highly seeded Britain. Namibia started off well as the Brits showered an onslaught of shots at the Namibian goal. Oliver Thors saved 21 of the 23 shots aimed at Namibia. With only 8 minutes left on the clock for the first period, Britain scored their first goal, and managed to add another goal 3 minutes later. Namibia’s captain, Arne Rodenwoldt, managed to bring Namibia back in range by scoring with 19 seconds left on the clock, ending a the first half at 2:1 in favour of Britain.
Britain continued to pressurise Namibia, resulting in three unanswered goals from Britain within the first five minutes of the second period. Namibia was finally able to respond with its second and final goal, when Kyle Weeks scored on Vincent van Biljon’s rebound, bringing the score to 5:2 with 15 minutes remaining. Britain finished the game with three more goals, producing a final score of 8:2 in their favour. Namibia played their second game against Switzerland. The game started evenly, with each side testing the other.
Switzerland scored the first goal nine minutes into the game. Namibia responded with a goal by Michael Falk on an assist from Rene Ruegheimer. Soon after, Dominic Denker hit in an unassisted goal, giving Namibia a 2:1 lead. Before half-time Switzerland and Namibia traded one more goal each, with Gunnar Vissar finding the net for Namibia’s third goal. At the conclusion of period one, Namibia held a 3:2 lead. Period two commenced with Switzerland repeatedly slapped shots against Namibian goalie, Oliver Thors.
Thors, together with excellent team defence, shut out Switzerland’s scoring in the second period. Namibia’s offense scored two additional goals, with Kyle Weeks scoring the two goals on assists from Tyron Miles and Rene Ruegheimer. The 5:2 victory over Switzerland was a milestone achievement for Namibia, although captain Arne Rodenwoldt was out of the remainder of the tournament due to the knee injury. The following Monday Namibia was pitted against one of the FIRS favourites, Team USA, for game three. Namibia started strongly, holding the USA players to no goals for the first six minutes.
Thereafter the highly skilled American team hit quickly and efficiently scoring three rapid goals in a brief two-minute period, giving Team USA a 3:0 lead. The American team scored a fourth goal before Namibia’s Dominic Denker smacked in a tumbling puck past the goalkeeper’s glove for Namibia’s only goal of the match. The first period ended with Team USA holding a 6:1 advantage. During the second period Namibia played with a very strong defence keeping USA scoreless. The final score of 6:1 for USA reflected a solid performance from Namibia.
Later that day Namibia entered its fourth game against Mexico. Namibia started strongly with Vincent van Biljon scoring the first goal on an assist from Rene Ruegheimer in period one. Namibia played solid defence until the 6:09 mark when Mexico tied the score at 1:1. Mexico then hit in its second goal a brief 15 seconds before period one ended, giving Mexico a 2:1 lead at half time.
The second half started with Namibia holding Mexico scoreless until the 13th minute, when Mexico was able to score its third goal. The game concluded with Mexico being a 5:1 victor. Namibia received the fourth seed for Pool A, but had to play the Czech Republic team in the quarter finals. Namibia played the Czech Republic on Tuesday, 1 July, and lost 13-0, and had to play against Columbia for seventh and eighth place. After losing 2:1, Namibia was placed in eighth position in the competition.
On day one Namibia pitched against a highly seeded Britain. Namibia started off well as the Brits showered an onslaught of shots at the Namibian goal. Oliver Thors saved 21 of the 23 shots aimed at Namibia. With only 8 minutes left on the clock for the first period, Britain scored their first goal, and managed to add another goal 3 minutes later. Namibia’s captain, Arne Rodenwoldt, managed to bring Namibia back in range by scoring with 19 seconds left on the clock, ending a the first half at 2:1 in favour of Britain.
Britain continued to pressurise Namibia, resulting in three unanswered goals from Britain within the first five minutes of the second period. Namibia was finally able to respond with its second and final goal, when Kyle Weeks scored on Vincent van Biljon’s rebound, bringing the score to 5:2 with 15 minutes remaining. Britain finished the game with three more goals, producing a final score of 8:2 in their favour. Namibia played their second game against Switzerland. The game started evenly, with each side testing the other.
Switzerland scored the first goal nine minutes into the game. Namibia responded with a goal by Michael Falk on an assist from Rene Ruegheimer. Soon after, Dominic Denker hit in an unassisted goal, giving Namibia a 2:1 lead. Before half-time Switzerland and Namibia traded one more goal each, with Gunnar Vissar finding the net for Namibia’s third goal. At the conclusion of period one, Namibia held a 3:2 lead. Period two commenced with Switzerland repeatedly slapped shots against Namibian goalie, Oliver Thors.
Thors, together with excellent team defence, shut out Switzerland’s scoring in the second period. Namibia’s offense scored two additional goals, with Kyle Weeks scoring the two goals on assists from Tyron Miles and Rene Ruegheimer. The 5:2 victory over Switzerland was a milestone achievement for Namibia, although captain Arne Rodenwoldt was out of the remainder of the tournament due to the knee injury. The following Monday Namibia was pitted against one of the FIRS favourites, Team USA, for game three. Namibia started strongly, holding the USA players to no goals for the first six minutes.
Thereafter the highly skilled American team hit quickly and efficiently scoring three rapid goals in a brief two-minute period, giving Team USA a 3:0 lead. The American team scored a fourth goal before Namibia’s Dominic Denker smacked in a tumbling puck past the goalkeeper’s glove for Namibia’s only goal of the match. The first period ended with Team USA holding a 6:1 advantage. During the second period Namibia played with a very strong defence keeping USA scoreless. The final score of 6:1 for USA reflected a solid performance from Namibia.
Later that day Namibia entered its fourth game against Mexico. Namibia started strongly with Vincent van Biljon scoring the first goal on an assist from Rene Ruegheimer in period one. Namibia played solid defence until the 6:09 mark when Mexico tied the score at 1:1. Mexico then hit in its second goal a brief 15 seconds before period one ended, giving Mexico a 2:1 lead at half time.
The second half started with Namibia holding Mexico scoreless until the 13th minute, when Mexico was able to score its third goal. The game concluded with Mexico being a 5:1 victor. Namibia received the fourth seed for Pool A, but had to play the Czech Republic team in the quarter finals. Namibia played the Czech Republic on Tuesday, 1 July, and lost 13-0, and had to play against Columbia for seventh and eighth place. After losing 2:1, Namibia was placed in eighth position in the competition.
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