S. Korea beats Hungary to open men's hockey world championship
Players celebrate after defeating Hungary 5-1 at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship Division I Group A tournament at Barys Arena in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, Monday. /Yonhap
South Korea defeated Hungary 5-1 to begin the men's hockey world championship in Kazakhstan on Monday, a winning start to its quest for a promotion back to the top competition.
Forward Kim Sang-wook scored two goals and set up two others, as world No. 16 South Korea easily handled 20th-ranked Hungary at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship Division I Group A tournament at Barys Arena in Nur-Sultan.
This is the second-highest level of IIHF world championships, and the top two nations after the round robin play will be promoted to the elite division for 2020. The last-placed team from Division I Group A will be relegated to Division I Group B for next year.
Other teams in Division I Group A this year are Belarus (world No. 14), Slovenia (No. 15), Kazakhstan (No. 18) and Lithuania (No. 25).
Coached by Jim Paek, a Stanley Cup-winning defenseman in his playing days, South Korea made its debut in the top IIHF World Championship last year but got immediately relegated after losing all seven games by a combined score of 48-4.
Against Hungary, Shin Sang-hoon opened the scoring for South Korea on a breakaway at 15:01 in the first period. Shin stripped Andrew Sarauer of the puck in the neutral zone and danced past a diving defender before beating goalie Bence Balizs through the five-hole.
Janos Hari tied the score just 45 seconds after Shin's goal, but Ahn Jin-hui restored the one-goal lead for South Korea 1:42 into the second period, with Kim Sang-wook picking up his first assist.
Kim scored one himself on a power play at 8:06 in the second for a 3-1 advantage. Kim then set up his brother, Kim Ki-sung, for South Korea's fourth goal at 8:48 mark in the third period. Kim Sang-wook rounded out the scoring for the winning side 41 seconds later with a pretty backhander.
Matt Dalton, Canadian-born South Korean goalie, made 20 saves in the victory. Ahn matched Kim Sang-wook's point total with a goal and three assists.
South Korea's next game is Tuesday against Slovenia, back in Nur-Sultan. South Korea has lost all six meetings against Slovenia, which will be led this time by Los Angeles Kings stalwart Anze Kopitar.
(Yonhap)