Despite having the event’s youngest group, the Romanians completed undefeated at Zagreb´s Ice Dome to earn promotion. As a consequence, Romania advances to Division II Group B subsequent season.
The IIHF broke new floor this season by way of introducing the U18 Women´s Worlds Division III event. Croatia, Lithuania, and Thailand all made their first plunge into ladies’s U18 festival. Completing the four-team lineup in Zagreb was once Romania, prior to now winless at U18 World Championship Qualification in 2016-17.
Heading into the general day of festival, Romania led with 5 issues, adopted by way of Croatia and Lithuania with 3. The Romanians knew a victory of their mid-afternoon matchup as opposed to Lithuania can be sufficient to clinch gold.
Lithuania´s Rugile Stirnaite coolly tallied the hole purpose as opposed to Romania on a 2-on-1 rush at 15:29. But the enjoyment proved short-lived. Heading into the general 3 mins of the era, Romania exploded for 2 targets in 51 seconds. Blueliner Olivia Popescu’s effort from the appropriate circle flew previous Mileja Girkontaite and tied it up, Eva Zand then past due’s slap shot were given the Romanians in entrance 2-1.
Romania then delivered a dominant moment body, outshooting Lithuania 14-8. Bianca Mihai sailed during the Lithuanian defence after taking a Popescu move to transform prime at the blocker aspect of Girkontaite at 0:53.
Boosted by way of a a hit penalty kill, Vitos then took issues into her personal palms to attain 3 times in simply over 9 mins. The 4-1 purpose got here from a bullet of a slap shot and the 5-1 purpose was once a solo effort. Vitos finished her herbal hat trick at the energy play with a wrister from the slot at 14:38.
Romania´s Iana Platica piled at the distress for the Lithuanians by way of scoring on all sides of the second one intermission to run away with an 8-1 lead. With the sport successfully over, Stirnaite added her moment of the afternoon for the Lithuanians ahead of Ausrine Rakauskaite rounded out the scoring at 8-3.
Earlier within the event, Romania wasted little time to take keep watch over of their opener as opposed to Croatia. Two first-period targets in simply 36 seconds set Romania not off course for a nice 6-3 victory. Vitos scored a brace, whilst Zlate notched a purpose and two assists for the Romanians.
As a focal point, Vitos is captaining SC Csikszereda from Miercurea Ciuc, whilst the14-year-old Zlate is one in all 9 Romanians representing ACS Fox Hockey from Gheorgheni. Both avid gamers skate on jap Transylvanian groups competing on two fronts: within the Romanian ladies’s league and around the western border within the Hungarian U25 championship.
Versus Thailand all through Day Two, it was once two 14-year-old Romanians skating additional afield sparking their revival. Rallying from a 2-0 deficit as opposed to the Southeast Asian debutants, Daniela Sabalin of Germany’s EC Bad Nauheim were given Romania at the board with 6:12 left in legislation. The U.S.-based blueliner Popescu, from Buffalo Jr. Sabres, tied the sport on a 5-on-3. With momentum now firmly with the Romanians, Vitos stepped as much as ranking 50 seconds into time beyond regulation to finish the comeback and earn two treasured issues.
Vitos ruled the event in scoring with six targets in 3 video games for Romania. At the opposite finish, netminder Nicoleta Sabalin was once decided on because the event’s best possible goalie. The 16-year-old loved two wins, a save share of 92.86 and a GAA of one.79.
Heading into the general day, Thailand discovered itself on the backside of the standings with one level. A fired-up Thai group were given in entrance as opposed to Croatia when the event’s second-highest scorer, Thitaree Satityathiwat, tallied after simply 28 seconds.
Thailand outshot the Croats 13-1 within the first era, and Pavitra Champasiri doubled the Thai benefit with an influence play strike. Ajcharaporn Niyomvong stretched the result in 3 targets within the ultimate body ahead of Croatia´s Beata Vugic scored a past due comfort purpose. Despite previous heartbreak for Thailand with two slim losses, trainer Rory Rawlyk’s kids completed on a prime in moment position.
Last season, Laura Vukelic was once one in all seven avid gamers at the Croatian U18 roster representing their ladies’s national group in World Championship play at this venue. Now debuting for the U18s, the 16-year-old was once in inspiring shape, notching two targets and a helper as bronze-winning Croatia blanked Lithuania 3-0 on Day Two. Vukelic was once decided on because the event´s most sensible ahead.
Fourth-place Lithuania overcame pre-game nerves to rejoice an historical 4-3 victory as opposed to Thailand of their debut. Vaiva Rastenyte completed 3rd in general scoring with 5 issues in 3 video games. Standing out for the Baltic country was once the event’s most sensible defender, Marcele Kieraite. The 14-year-old is the daughter of Mindaugas Kieras, a mythical Lithuanian blueliner. He performed 100 national group video games ahead of placing up his skates in 2018.
