World Champions! Bermuda beat Italy (Update)

A tense affair saw Bermuda come from behind to take a dramatic victory over Italy to win the World B Ball Hockey Championship in Newfoundland, Canada Sunday afternoon.

Bermuda had won the B pool with an undefeated run through the other six countries and were the slight favourite to take the title over the Italians.

In the only match-up between the two sides in this tournament, Bermuda prevailed 3-1.

Both teams had opportunities in the first period, but both each side’s goalie was flawless, although Italy’s Andrew Gnagnarella was tested more often by Bermuda than the island's Yan Leclerc.

Bermuda would strike early in the second period. Defenseman Chris Coleman, playing virtually on one leg having suffered a hamstring pull days earlier, received a drop pass from Gazzard and he blasted a slapshot past the Italian keeper.

But things went horribly wrong for Bermuda at the end of the period as a boarding penalty by Adam Chevis put the Italians on a power play. They finally took the zero off the scoreboard when Vito Tomasicchio scored at 2:04.

A penalty by Cory Caouette at 1:16 in the second put Italy back on the advantage which they made good use of 30 seconds later when Adriano Fiacconi slotted the goal into the net.

Bermuda went into the locker room down 2-1 instead of up 1-0. The team battled hard and in spite of two power play opportunities couldn’t find the equalizer.

With time beginning to run out, Chevis found some redemption as he and Monte Palsat assisted Christopher Merritt, who put the team back on equal footing at 4:22 left in the third.

The two teams would exchange chances for the remainder of the third period until the buzzer sounded on regulation time. Tied at 2 after regulation both teams regrouped and met again at center to play a sudden death 10 minute period to try and decide the gold medal winner.

Again, both teams fought hard and exchanged excellent scoring chances but neither could end the match. This meant that the game would have to be decided by penalty shots. Both teams selected five shooters and one by one they advanced in alone on their opposing goaltenders. Bermuda's Caouette would also find redemption and be the hero for the Bermuda forwards. Caouette raced in on goal and made a series of moves before tapping the ball into the back of his net. He would be the only Bermuda forward to score. Fortunately a one goal advantage was all Bermuda goaltender and later B Pool MVP Yan Leclerc would need as he stopped all five Italian strikers.

Team manager Dave Gazzard said this was "incredible individual effort on Yan's part".

Israel defeated Hong Kong 3-2 to take the bronze medal.