Ice Hockey: Hand sets Scott free: Great Britain earn a point
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.GREAT BRITAIN'S 2-2 draw with Poland in the first match of the Olympic qualifying tournament in Sheffield on Saturday saw the team coach, Alex Dampier, still in good spirits as his side go into their second game against Japan tonight.
'I have a lot of respect for the Poles and I knew the going was always going to be tough,' Dampier said. 'We should have won it in the second period when we had so many chances but our finishing let us down. That will improve, and we have nothing to be ashamed of. It's a point won, not lost.'
But it was won the hard way. Britain survived one five-on-three spell in the first period, but not in the second. With the imports Kevin Conway and Mike O'Connor both in the penalty box, Wojciech Tkacz opened the scoring. Britain's chances were restricted to a slapshot by Rick Fera and a breakaway by Tony Hand seconds from the period. Both were smothered by the Polish second-string goalminder, Tomasz Jaworski.
Fera, Doug McEwen and the squad newcomer Patrick Scott excelled in the second as Britain applied pressure, but the only time the puck entered either net was from a Fera shot that was struck after the referee had blown the play dead.
Britain's break came three minutes into the last period. Todd Bidner passed to Conway who tipped the puck over Jaworski. The tie lasted 10 minutes when Miroslav Tomasik scored to restore Poland's lead.
Britain continued to play their physical, grinding game that they know so well and that their opponents hate, and were rewarded when Scott picked up a Hand pass from the left to net the equaliser with five minutes left on the clock.
OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT (Sheffield): Great Britain 2 Poland 2.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments