In a dramatic Final of the EuroHockey Indoor Junior Championships between the hosts Poland and Austria which ended in a draw 2-2 and forced the game to a dramatic sudden death shoot out, Austria’s Franz LINDENGRUN was the hero as he scored the final goal in the sudden death series to secure the EuroHockey Indoor Junior Trophy for a second time in a row for Austria.
Belarus v Russia (Bronze medal game)
The Bronze medal game between Belarus and Russia was a tight affair. Russia had the better of the first half with good goalkeeping from both teams influencing the scoreline. A good strike from PROSKURYAKOV put Russia ahead and then LEONTYIEV doubled their tally just before the half time hooter. Russia’s third goal was the result of a positive attack leaving LEONTYIEV an open goal. Belarus continued to challenge KAROL looking threatening in front of goal and he was rewarded in the 30th minute with 10 minutes to play. However Russia scored 3 very quick goals bringing the score to 1-6 and way beyond Belarus. A seventh goal for Russia on the final whistle and the Bronze was secured.
Belarus v Russia – Final Score 1-7
RUS’ 5 2 PROSKURYAKOV Mikhail PC 0-1
RUS ’20 15 LEONTYIEV Mikhail FG 0-2
RUS ’25 15 LEONTYIEV Mikhail FG 0-3
BLR ’30 13 KAROL Mikita FG 1-3
RUS ’30 4 ARTEMOV Evgeny FG 1-4
RUS ’32 8 LEPESHKIN Sergey FG 1-5
RUS ’33 8 LEPESHKIN Sergey FG 1-6
RUS ’40 15 LEONTYIEV Mikhail FG 1-7
Poland v Austria (Final)
A fantastic home crowd added a wonderful atmosphere to the Final of the EuroHockey Indoor Junior Championships. Poland opened the scoring via a classy goal by KUROWSKI catching the Austrian defense out 1-0 to Poland in the 7th minute. Austria were under attack for the first 10 minutes but defended well. In the second period of the first half Austrian started to attack but the Russian keeper POPIOLKOWSKI was very assured and the score remained 1-0 to Poland. Two minutes from the end of the half RUTKOWSK, the Polish Captain eased past his defender down the right, but his shot was wide. Russia were forced to defend well in the final moments as Austria looked for a small crack in that defense.
7 minutes into the second half and RUDOFSKY, AUT, leveled the score 1-1 . The Polish Captain RUTKOWSKI took a tumble and was forced off the field with a blood injury, his brave defending was missed and Austria went ahead in the time he was off via RUDOFSKY again. A real game of cat and mouse with neither side giving an inch ensued! GRUSZCZYNSKI, RUS, had an excellent chance but just wide in the 36th minute. PC for Poland in the 27th minute and a cracking drag flick from RUTKOWSKI and the teams were tied for the last 2 minutes. Nothing could separate the teams and the game ended 2-2. After the shoot out the score remained tied 1-1 forcing a sudden death series and it was LINDENGRUN who scored the winner for Austria.
Poland v Austria – Final Score 2-2 1-2 (sudden death penalties)
POL ‘7 21 KUROWSKI Jacek FG 1-0
AUT ’24 26 RUDOFSKY Pit FG 1-1
AUT ’27 26 RUDOFSKY Pit FG 1-2
POL’ 38 15 RUTKOWSKI Arkadiusz PC 2-2
Shoot out:
POL JANICKI Jakub (#16) STVARNIK Ferdinand (#30) O
AUT RUDOFSKY Pit (#26) POPIOLKOWSKI Mateusz (#1) X
POL MAZANY Mateusz (#10) STVARNIK Ferdinand (#30) O
AUT LINDENGRUN Franz (#5) POPIOLKOWSKI Mateusz (#1) O
POL JARZEMBOWSKI Damian (#20) STVARNIK Ferdinand (#30) X
AUT SZMIDT Bartosz (#12) POPIOLKOWSKI Mateusz (#1) O
AUT RUDOFSKY Pit (#26) POPIOLKOWSKI Mateusz (#1) O
POL JANICKI Jakub (#16) STVARNIK Ferdinand (#30) O
AUT LINDENGRUN Franz (#5) POPIOLKOWSKI Mateusz (#1) X
POL JARZEMBOWSKI Damian (#20) STVARNIK Ferdinand (#30) O
Best Keeper Award – Ferdinand STVARNIK , Poland
Best Player Award – Bartosz SZMIDT, Austria
Top Scorer Award – Jacek KUROWSKI – Poland
Final Ranking:
Ranking Team
1 Austria EuroHockey Indoor Junior Champions 2015
2 Poland
3 Russia
4 Belarus
5 Switzerland
6 Portugal
7 Turkey Relegated to EuroHockey Indoor Junior Championship II, Men,2017
8 Ukraine Relegated to EuroHockey Indoor Junior Championship II, Men,2017