Polish Champion (still) out of reach of "Szarotek"

Podhale figured in the composition without injured Krzysztof Zapała, Patryk Wajda and Ali Liikannen and Jakub Worwa, who were part of the under-20 team. In the ranks of GKS, Michael Cichy, also struggling with an injury.

After the first third, Podhale lost 0: 1, although since the beginning of the match, the hosts have scored more goals in this part of the game. The Nowy Targ were not able to take advantage of their opportunities, but the guests took advantage of the match with a power play in 14 minutes and Adam Bagiński gave them the advantage.

In the second half, the Nowy Targ started in four and they immediately defended the three against the five rivals. And in such circumstances, the Tzars increased their lead in 22 minutes, this time thanks to Alex Szczechura. The guests of this fragment of the match completely controlled the unfolding of events and after 36 minutes, they already got the difference of three hits, after Tomas Sykora had actually completed the action of his training. In 32 minutes, Podhalanie had already lost 0: 4. Michal Kolarz came close to Przemysław Odrobny's goal of the blue line (the referee was still using video analysis). In 38 minutes, the hosts got the better of them, because after a good pass by Krystian Dziubiński, Marcin Kolusz scored a goal for them.

In the third period, "Szarotki" was still trying to catch up with his opponent and in 45 minutes he reduced the distance to two hits. Krystian Dziubiński entered the list of fencers who, despite the help of Tychy's defenders, managed to push the puck into the goal, under the barriers of John Murray. From that moment, the Nowotarians went on the offensive with even more force. However, at Tychy's door, Murray parted. He was not beaten even when between 52 and 54 minutes for 79 seconds, his team played three against five players from Podhal. Once – after Dziubinski's shooting – he was helped by a post.

The fate of the match was settled less than 5 minutes before the final siren. When Podhale players played 5 of 4, their coach also decided to maneuver with the goalkeeper's withdrawal. However, this had the opposite effect of the expected result, as the guests got fifth place. Sykora hit the empty goal. 11 seconds before the end, Dziubiński reduced the extent of the defeat.

– Do we have a patent for Podhale? I would not call it that way. We played checkered lately. Good matches are closely related to the weak ones. We play pretty well in these games with Podhale, but even today, we have not avoided the moments of nonchalance, but fortunately it has had no major consequences for us – admitted the Tychy player, Mateusz Bryk.

– This match proved that we had to play more coherently and responsibly in defense. And this was our first third in our performance. In the second goal lost in double digits, he added "wings" to Tychom and in fact we jumped. The third third of our dictation, but lack of efficiency mainly in the moments of the game in the majority. He is difficult. We fought, but today, that was not enough – Captain Podhala evaluated Jarosław Różański.

– I'm happy with the winning match. For nearly two-thirds, we controlled this game. However, with our 4-0 lead, my players apparently decided that it was after the game. We stopped playing hockey and became nervous. We must learn lessons for the future – rated GKS Tychy, Andrej Husau.

– First of all, it was a very good meeting, at a high level. It was a real hockey. I congratulate Tychy. It's a very good team. However, I am proud of my team, the heart and health that remain in this game. We go all the time – Podhale coach summed up, Tomek Valtonen.

TatrySki Podhale Nowy Targ – GKS Tychy 3: 5 (0: 1, 1: 3, 2: 1)
0: 1 Adam Baginski – Andriy Michnov, Peter Novajovsky (13:40, 5/4)
0: 2 Alexander Szczechura – Andriy Michnov, Gleb Klimenko (21:44, 5/3)
0: 3 Tomáš Sýkora – Bartłomiej Jeziorski (25:17)
0: 4 Michael Kolarz – Patryk Kogut (31:59)
1: 4 Marcin Kolusz – Krystian Dziubinski, Joonas Sammalmaa (36:38)
2: 4 Krystian Dziubinski – Marcin Kolusz, Jarosław Różański (45:24)
2: 5 Tomáš Sýkora – Andriy Michnov (56:32, 4/5)
3: 5 Krystian Dziubiński – Bartłomiej Neupauer (59:49)

The judges were: Tomasz Radzik (principal) – Rafał Noworyta, Szymon Urbańczyk (lining)
Penalty minutes: 12-12
Shots: 32-32
Spectators: 720

Podhale: Odrobny – Jaśkiewicz, Tolvanen; Siuty, Koski, Sammalmaa – Mrugała, Moksunen, Michalski, Dziubinski, Kolusz – Dutka, Różański; Wielkiewicz, Neupauer, Guzik and Wsół, Wolski, D. Kapica.

GKS: Murray – Pociecha, Ciura; Sýkora, Komorski, Michnow – Bryk, Kolarz; Gościński, Rzeszutko, Bagiński – Kotlorz, Novajovský; Klimienko, Kalinowski, Szczechura – Salamon, Witecki and Jeziorski, Galant, Coq.