PH routs Iran, stays perfect in Hockey Worlds
THE Philippine national ice hockey team continues to roll in the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships Division 3B on Saturday by defeating Iran 14-2 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Forwards Kenwrick Sze and Steven Füglister had multiple points in the game, with Sze (3 goals, 2 assists) and Füglister (3 goals, 5 assists) each tallying hat tricks during the game.
Sze and Füglister each had two goals in the 7-goal first period, along with goals from forward Jan Aro Regencia, defenseman Eishner “EJ” Sibug, and captain Manvil Billones.
Eight minutes into the second period, Iran forward Arshia Ghafoori put his team on the board, but Sibug answered back less than three minutes later and forward Patrick Abis scored to make it 9-1 for the Philippine team.
Sibug made it 10-1 six minutes into the third period, but despite Iran’s Kayan Farsad scoring his team’s second goal, forward Benjamin “BJ” Imperial responded with his first of the tournament 31 seconds later to make it 11-2.
Füglister would make it 12-2 less than two minutes after Abis’ second goal of the game, and less than six minutes later, Sze would tally the first hat trick for the Philippine team.
Carlo Tigaronita would score the game’s final goal to complete the rout.
The Philippines outshot Iran 50-19 and Füglister, with eight points and hitting 100 points for the national team, got the country’s player of the game honors.
This was also a face off between two Finnish head coaches, with Philippine head coach Juhani Ijäs winning over Iran coach Sami Karppinen.
With the 14-2 victory over Iran, the Philippines now has its second win of the World Championships.
They will next face the host country of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, February 26.