FINAL OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION GROUP F

Sparekassen Danmark Isarena, 

Sunday 1st September

GREAT BRITAIN

3

2

JAPAN

Sean Norris

02:59

Liam Kirk

14:18

Josh Waller

16:20

Otsu Kosuke

22:51

Furuhashi Makuru

36:55

02:59

GOOOOOOOOAL GB. Waller and Halbert combined to set-up SEAN NORRIS who sweeps the puck home from the right-circle on the powerplay. GB 1-0 Japan

14:18

GOOOOOOOOAL GB. It's LIAM KIRK with his second goal of the tournament as he scores on the powerplay from the right-circle. GB 2-0 Japan.

16:20

GOOOOOOOOOAL GB. Ben Lake's shot is saved but JOSH WALLER slams home the rebound. GB 3-0 Japan

22:51

Goal for Japan Otsu Kosuke cuts inside from the left and shoots across Whistle to get Japan on the board. GB 3-1 Japan.

36:55

Goal two Japan. Sato Hiroto's shot comes back off the boards and Furuhashi Makuru scores on the rebound from close-range. GB 3-2 Japan.

September 1, 2024

GREAT BRITAIN 3-2 JAPAN

Great Britain celebrate their first goal against Japan

Great Britain ended their Olympic Qualifying campaign with a 3-2 over Japan in Aalborg.

It was a hard-fought victory for GB against a fast-skating Japan team who are coached by former Cardiff Devils Head Coach Jarrod Skalde.

Sean Norris scored his first international goal while Liam Kirk and Josh Waller scored their second goals of the tournament. Jackson Whistle got the start in goal with Ben Bowns as back-up.

GB score three in first period
GB went ahead on the powerplay as Waller and Nathanael Halbert combined to set-up Norris who scored with a neat low wrist-shot (2:59).

Brett Perlini hit the post and Davey Phillips was denied from close-range while at the other end, Whistle saved well from Nakajima Shogo.

Kirk netted on the powerplay from the right-circle (14:18) before Ben Lake’s shot was saved and Waller slammed home the rebound for GB’s third (16:20).

Japan hit back with two-goal second period 
Japan reduced the arrears early in the second session when Otsu Kosuke cut inside from the left and shot across Whistle into the right-hand corner (22:51).

Whistle superbly saved Irikura Taiga’s close-range effort and then denied Kento Suzuki twice in quick succession.

Robert Dowd went close for GB before Sato Hiroto’s shot came back off the boards and Furuhashi Makuru scored on the rebound from close-range to make it a one-goal game (36:55).
No goals in third period as GB secure victory
Whistle made an outstanding save to deny Sato Yu on the doorstep on an early third-period powerplay for Japan.Sam Duggan saw his shot saved by the pad of Narisawa Yuta who then made a brilliant glove save to stop Kirk’s goalbound effort.

Japan lifted Narisawa Yuta for the extra out-skater with just over two minutes remaining, but GB held firm to round-off the tournament with a victory.

Sean Norris celebrates after scoring his first goal for Great Britain

Stats

33

Shots

31
29

Saves

30
6

PIM

4