Forza Italia….It Was Their Time - WeAreBallhockey.com
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Forza Italia….It Was Their Time

Thursday, 04 June, 2015 16:14
Forza Italia….It Was Their Time

'Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers’ provided the backdrop for this premier event

and most prognosticators predicted the competition would be highly contested with very little separating the teams vying for the tournament title.  Five teams competed, Canada North, Canada South, Italy, Slovakia and host USA and all were looking for the championship and to preserve their place in the history books at the inaugural event. 

In the end there was no stopping the Italians in the inaugural Master’s World Championship.  The team went 3-1 in the round robin and playing the host USA in the semi finals in which they won 4-2 getting back at the team that beat them in the preliminary round and setting up a the championship game against Canada South.

These two teams know of each other very well and this was the best game of the tournament with momentum going back and forth throughout setting up an incredible end with Canada tying the game with less than a minute to play.  Team Italia would end the game early in overtime winning 6-5 on a goal by Chris Sebastian.

In the other semi final, Canada North would open the scoring, but would be behind 3-2 at the end of the first and Canada South would score two more to take the victory 5-2 and the championship final would be set.   The final would see two opposing styles of play between the run and gun offense of Team Italia versus the defensively sound Canada South. 

Canada South’s biggest challenge would be to slow down the high flying Team Italia and after the first period it was 2-2.

Team Italia struck three times in the first five minutes of the second period and the game seemed to be over.  However, at the twelve minute mark, Canada South would edge close and minutes later get a goal drawing them within one and we were indeed in store for a great finish.  With under a minute to play and a faceoff in the Italia zone, Canada would push everything towards the Italy net and with under a minute to play the equalizer was scored.

It didn’t take long in overtime as Chris Sebastian would come over the blue line and take a shot destined for the back of the net just a minute into the extra frame.  Team Italia came into the tournament as favorites and lived up to the billing winning the inaugural event.

The most important factor in the success of any team is ensuring that the players work together towards one common goal, this responsibility falls on the shoulders of the staff and Rocco Mongelli puts his players in roles for each of them to succeed.

This team has a great make up and with many teams being able to offer one scoring line, this team can send three solid lines over the boards. Goaltending is always the backbone of any championship calibre team and they have Chris Martin backstop the team to victory.

Forza!

For complete Master’s games scores, visit, http://www.weareballhockey.com/divisions/881-masters-.html

For more information and to keep updated with international events and news, visit the World Ball Hockey Federation information www.worldballhockey.com

To receive information on membership and to register a team at a WBHF event, please email wbhf.president@gmail.com or info@worldcupofballhockey.com

Tags: Ontario

Ontario Province

Ontario

Asociation: Ontario Ball Hockey Association

Address: 5-56 Pennsylvania Avenue Concord, Ontario, L4K 3V9

Links: www.ontarioballhockey.ca

Year founded: 1974

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