Dowd Leads GB to Victory Over Ukraine
Robert Dowd scored a hat-trick as Great Britain secured a dramatic overtime 4-3 victory against Ukraine in the World Championship (Division 1A) in Slovenia.
Ukraine had the better of the opening session, outshooting GB 16-4, and they took the lead after good stick work by Olexander Pobyedonostsev in the slot (13:29).
Dowd levelled with a penalty shot at 23:05 as the Belfast Giants forward was hauled down when clean through on goal, and scored his first goal of the tournament with a neat finish into the top of the net.
Four goals then followed in a five-minute spell as Great Britain first had a two-goal lead only to be pegged back to 3-3.
Nottingham Panthers forward Matthew Myers put GB ahead shorthanded (30:46) with a fantastic individual goal. With Owen Fussey in the penalty box, Myers used his strength to come away from two Ukraine defencemen on the left boards and fire past Mykhailo Balaban.
Just over two minutes later Dowd scored his second of the game (32:53), reacting first to a loose puck in the crease, with assists going to Colin Shields and Corey Nelson.
Serge Klymentyev's one-time blast from right point on the powerplay closed the gap (35:07) and Olexander Pobyedonostsev's deflected shot from the slot (35:51) drew Ukraine level 44 seconds later.
After a scoreless third period the game went to overtime and Dowd completed his hat-trick with a wrist shot (61:46), assisted by Myers, to give GB the victory.
It moves Great Britain into fourth in the table on two points from three matches.
Head coach Tony Hand said: "I am so proud of the guys in the way they battled. We played well but were up against it the first period and came back superbly.
"There were huge goals from Dowd and Myers. The team effort and the way we stuck to the plan was brilliant.
"I could not have asked for anything more. The team was fantastic. Right now we will regroup and get ready for tomorrow. I still think we can win a medal here."
GB return to action tomorrow (Thursday) when they face Japan and will finish the tournament on Saturday against Hungary.
Ukraine had the better of the opening session, outshooting GB 16-4, and they took the lead after good stick work by Olexander Pobyedonostsev in the slot (13:29).
Dowd levelled with a penalty shot at 23:05 as the Belfast Giants forward was hauled down when clean through on goal, and scored his first goal of the tournament with a neat finish into the top of the net.
Four goals then followed in a five-minute spell as Great Britain first had a two-goal lead only to be pegged back to 3-3.
Nottingham Panthers forward Matthew Myers put GB ahead shorthanded (30:46) with a fantastic individual goal. With Owen Fussey in the penalty box, Myers used his strength to come away from two Ukraine defencemen on the left boards and fire past Mykhailo Balaban.
Just over two minutes later Dowd scored his second of the game (32:53), reacting first to a loose puck in the crease, with assists going to Colin Shields and Corey Nelson.
Serge Klymentyev's one-time blast from right point on the powerplay closed the gap (35:07) and Olexander Pobyedonostsev's deflected shot from the slot (35:51) drew Ukraine level 44 seconds later.
After a scoreless third period the game went to overtime and Dowd completed his hat-trick with a wrist shot (61:46), assisted by Myers, to give GB the victory.
It moves Great Britain into fourth in the table on two points from three matches.
Head coach Tony Hand said: "I am so proud of the guys in the way they battled. We played well but were up against it the first period and came back superbly.
"There were huge goals from Dowd and Myers. The team effort and the way we stuck to the plan was brilliant.
"I could not have asked for anything more. The team was fantastic. Right now we will regroup and get ready for tomorrow. I still think we can win a medal here."
GB return to action tomorrow (Thursday) when they face Japan and will finish the tournament on Saturday against Hungary.
News Archive
- May 16, 2013The Latest from Doug
- May 14, 2013The STAR on The Legue Return
- May 13, 2013Next Signing - "It's Jeff Legue"
- April 23, 2013Player Sponsorship for Season 2013-14
- May 13, 2013Steelers Wish Frank Luck on His Move to...
- May 13, 2013Christiansen Returns to the States
- May 9, 2013No Return for Jorgensen
- May 6, 2013"Steelers Brit Pack Just Got Younger and...
- May 6, 2013Dowd Returns to the Sheffield Steelers
- May 2, 2013Season Ticket Update
- May 1, 2013Good Luck to All at the Conference Weekend...
- April 29, 2013The Bull Dog Returns.
