Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 5:48 am
Rocky International Start For Theta Yed
Group C Standings1. Ficiscia 3 0 6 1 +5 9
2. Gregoryisgodistan 2 1 9 3 +6 6
3. Novaya Zemlya 2 1 4 3 +1 6
4. Levivania 1 2 4 5 -1 3
5. Alphatheta 1 2 5 9 -4 3
6. Unified Sunrise Islands 0 3 2 9 -7 0Looking ForwardDay 4: v Unified Sunrise Islands
Day 5: v Novaya Zemyla
Wytropolis MSK+7 7:49pm - While the People's Republic has had an amazing debut as an international hockey powerhouse in the NZEL, making an amazing play for the title currently in Belushya Guba, the junior team is off to a much rockier start on international ice. This year's young stars of Theta Yed started strong with a 3-2 victory over Levivania, but were then struck by the crushing reality of intense international competition in their second and third match, losing 1-5 to Gregoryisgodistan and in overtime to Ficiscia.
Marcel Šimek, who scored Theta Yed's only goal last night despite strong efforts by Yulian Gabler and Artyom Yedlička, came off the ice obviously frustrated. "Twice in a row is tough," Šimek told us while the rest of the team listened to a rallying attempt by captain Nikita Andres. "Especially when the second time is so close. Against Gregoryisgodistan-- you know, you're just obviously outclassed and blown out of the water, but then today, we thought-- maybe we could turn it around. And we're killing ourselves out there but [Marcus] Hephastius was just-- on top of it and Euphemios [Gottlieb] trying to keep up but it's... I don't know. We've never played this hard before, and it always-- It's no fun when you have to be humble and confront this sort of thing. That's all."
Although the rest of the team could not be reached for comment, head coach Watson Wilson delivered a much more positive read of the tough loss to Ficiscia.
"You know, there's never a good time to face an amazing coach like Bratislav Yurakin," Coach Wilson told us after the match. "And whoever's in charge of their recruiting this year really pulled together a roster. Honestly, I'm proud of the boys for making it into overtime."
When asked if he expected the team to make the quarterfinals, Coach Wilson responded with extreme caution. "Maybe we'll pull something out, but hell, we've still got to beat Saxton and that Kalagin kid to get there. The longer we can hold on, of course, the better--not just for us this year. I'm thinking more about the younger kids hitting the ice again next year and the older kids having something to look forward to when they try out for Antipha United. They're good, but they think they're great. It's important to see them taken down a few
The team enters day 4 ranked fifth in their group of sixth but not yet eliminated. They'll be looking for a win against Unified Sunrise Islands before they have to face the regional powerhouse they know, Novaya Zemyla, on day 5.