China Wins Against Korea

AIDED BY THEIR FANS IN THE GREAT WALL OF TEAM CHINA CHEERING SECTION CHINA DEFEATED KOREA TO ADVANCE TO FACE THE USA ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Photos and Story by Robert Thomas

It was speed against tenaciousness as Team China faced Team Korea in front of 632 spectators on Friday evening at the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championships.

Team China, expected to easily win the game, had some tough times in the first part of the First Period as Team Korea matched them on the scoreboard in the early going.

TEAM KOREA’S KYOUNG MOON SHIN (RIGHT) JOCKEYS FOR POSITION WITH TEAM CHINA’S HANG CHI IN FRONT OF CHINESE GOALTENDER WEI WANG - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

Team China opened the scoring on the powerplay at the 2:17 mark when Yu Tao Cui scored assisted by Yi Feng Shen.

TEAM CHINA’S YI FENG SHEN (LEFT) IS WATCHED BY TEAM KOREA’S KYOUNG MOON SHIN - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

Team Korea would however respond on a powerplay marker of their own when Seung Hwan Jung broke in on right wing and scored at 5:04.

The assist went to Korea’s captain Dong Shin Jang.

SEUNG HWAN JUNG SCORES TEAM KOREA’S FIRST GOAL ON CHINESE GOALTENDER WEI WANG - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

A costly mistake though would seemingly take away any momentum Korea had when Jong Ho Jang would flip the puck over the glass and was assessed a delay of game minor.

Team China would make no mistake and Yi Feng Shen scored their second powerplay goal of the period at 7:28.

TEAM KOREA’S DONG SHIN JANG PICKS UP A LOOSE PUCK IN FRONT OF HIS GOALTENDER HYUK JUN CHOI - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

Team China would then score three more unanswered goals before the period ended.

Zhi Dong Wang scored what turned out to be the game winner at the 7:28 mark.

China would score the insurance market at 11:40 on a goal by Hong Guan Lee.

The Chinese team would get their fifth goal when Jin Tao Tian scored at 14:50.

TEAM CHINA’S GUANG JIAN HU (LEFT) RACES ACROSS THE BLUE LINE AGAINST TEAM KOREA’S DONG SHIN JANG - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

Team China led Team Korea 5 - 1 at the end of the first period.

The Second Period would see no goals scored.

Team China would be penalized twice on the period but Team Korea was unable to get anything going on the powerplay.

TEAM KOREA’S YE HA SONG (RIGHT) DISHES OUT A PENALTY CHECK - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

The Third Period would see Team Korea coming within three goals on likely one of the biggest shots of the tournament so far.

Skating in on the right wing Byeong Seok Cho went along the boards to get around the Chinese defender.

Cho would unleash a perfect hard wrist shot on a very tight angle that went over the shoulder of Chinese goaltender’s Wei Wang’s shoulder and in the top shelf.

TEAM CHINA’S YI FENG SHEN (CENTER) TAKES A SHOT ON TEAM KOREA’S GOALTENDER HYUK JUN CHOI - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

Any wind that may have filled Team Korea’s sails was short lived as Team China restored their four goal lead at 41:05 on a goal by Hong Guan Li.

TEAM CHINA’S YI FENG SHEN (LEFT) IS SHADOWED CLOSELY BY TEAM KOREA’S JEE HYUN RYU - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

Team China was not finished with the scoring and managed to score their seventh goal at 44:59 or one second left in the game.

The goal was scored by Jin Tao Tian.

The Final Score was China 7 and Korea 2.

TEAM CHINA’S JIN TAO TIAN (CENTER) CALLS FOR A PASS - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

In the post game interview China’s coach Jiwu Yin said he was happy with the win stating at the present time the Chinese squads main mission was to continue to remain injury free and win at the tournament.

Yin said he is looking forward to the team’s next matchup against the United States.

China and the United States remain unbeaten in the tournament.

The winner of that game advances to Sunday evening’s gold medal final.

While the loser of the game plays on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm at the bronze medal game.

TEAM CHINA’S ZHAN FU ZHU SLIDES INTO TEAM KOREA’S GOALTENDER GHYUK JUN CHOI - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

With the loss Korea’s next game is Sunday at 11 am with the winner claiming fifth place in the tournament.

Play in the tournament starts at 11 am today (Saturday) when Germany faces Norway with the winner claiming seventh place in the tournament.

The next game for Team Canada is at 7 pm when they face a tough and physical Team Czechia.

The winner of the game advances to Sunday evening’s gold medal game. The loser plays at 3 pm Sunday in the bronze medal game.