Australia downed 4-3 by Belgium in opening game of IIHF World Championships

Australia squandered a 3-0 lead and were eclipsed 4-3 by Belgium in overtime, in the opening game of their IIHF Division 2A World Championships campaign in Belgrade overnight.

A 3-0 first period from Australia was overshadowed by a collapse late in the 2^nd period, until overtime decided the outcome of the latest episode in a series of meetings between the two nations.

Australia opened the scoring less than 90 seconds into the first frame. A failed defensive clearing attempt by Belgium was picked off by Jason Baclig, who slid the puck through to Joey Rezek who then found a hole glove-side on Wouter Peeters and it was 1-0 Australia. It was Baclig’s first point in his first game in an Australian jersey.

It took less than 90 seconds until it was 2-0, thanks to Rob Malloy. Rezek picked off another lazy clearing attempt by the Belgian defence at the blue line and prodded it over to Malloy, who then beat Peters top shelf with a beautiful backhand shot. It was now 2-0 Australia with 17:02 to go in the first and the Roos had all the momentum early.

Tyler Kubara grabbed the third Australian goal only five minutes later on an odd-man rush. Kubara took a pass from Chris Wong inside the blue line and then walked in and fired from inside the right-hand circle, beating Peeters five-hole to make it 3-0. Belgium then immediately used their time out to try and calm their nerves.

It appeared to work.

Australia got themselves into penalty trouble through the end of the first period and well into the second, conceding four straight penalties. The penalty kill held up until Toon de Schepper found a way through Anthony Kimlin on the power play, to cut the deficit to 3-1 halfway through the second period.

Belgium added a second goal just 57 seconds later thanks to Sam Verelst, pulling the game back to 3-2 with nine minutes remaining in the period, and the Australian bench became a little nervous.

Verelst struck again just 21 seconds into the third period, assisted by ex-Sydney Ice Dog Bryan Kolodziejczyk, and Australian hearts went in mouths as it was now a 3-3 hockey game.

A tense 19 minutes of hockey ensued in the final period of regulation, with both sides having quality scoring chances to end the deadlock. However, Peeters and Kimlin stood firm in their respective nets and the game headed to 3-on-3 overtime.

It did not take long for Belgium to complete the comeback and stun the Roos, as Oliver Croock scored just 2:56 into OT, to take two points for Belgium and avenge their 2018 IIHF defeat. Australia took one tournament point in the loss but would have obviously much preferred to have had all three.

Kimlin stopped 33 of 37 in the loss while Peeters made 29 save off of 32 shots.

Australia now take on Serbia in a crucial clash at 4am AEST on Thursday morning. Live stream can be found here.