Hockey team qualifies for World gold medal game

Bermuda’s impressive streak at the 2013 Ball Hockey Championships continued on Thursday afternoon with a 4-0 thrashing of Great Britain.

This win secured Bermuda a berth in the Gold Medal match this Sunday.

Team manager Dave Gazzard said in a press release: “This was a huge game for Bermuda as a win would secure a birth into the Gold Medal match on Sunday. GBR were looking for redemption from previous tournaments against us and really had a chance to be the spoilers.”

Bermuda, despite being tired after four straight days of hard-fought hockey, dominated the game from start to finish, with Cory Caouette opening the contest with a short-handed goal a few minutes into the first period.  Adam Chevis scored again in the second off of an assist by teammate Scott Campbell, and Jean-Michael Tremblay deked out Great Britain’s goalie to score on a penalty shot in the third.  Cameron Poland scored an unassisted goal later in the third to bring Bermuda’s goal total to four on the day. Tremblay’s fifth goal of the tournament keeps him on top of the B-Pool leaderboard for goals scored this tournament.

Goalie Yan Leclerc was named Player of the Game by making 26 saves and recording the shutout.

The one dark spot in an otherwise solid performance for Bermuda was veteran defender Chris Coleman going down in the first period with a pulled hamstring.

Bermuda still holds the top spot in the B-Pool with five wins and no losses, and will face off against Armenia on Friday afternoon.  

Gazzard said they anticipate playing with a slightly tweaked roster in order to give some of their “bruised and battered” players a much-needed rest going into Sunday’s gold medal game.