Post by Cardiff Titans on Jul 5, 2011 16:20:34 GMT -2
Cardiff Titans have won the European Amateur Hockey Championships held at the Nou Camp Barcelona. The tournament is open to the winners of their respective National tournaments and since the Titans are Summer Cup Champions-elect they were given an honorary invitation.
With late notice and work and family commitments, the Titans only travelled with 6 skaters plus a goalie. Despite the small numbers and the exceptional quality of the tournament, the Titans won the gold medal, winning all seven games.
The early rounds were against teams from France, Spain and Germany of which the Titans dispatched quite convincingly. Waiting for them were Italian Champions HC Asiago (Mario Simioni and Hilton Ruggles former team) and again, the Titans got passed them beating them 3-1. In the Semi Final were Slovak Champs HC Slanec, a team that consisted of several ex-pro players. Titans dominated and beat those 6-0, going onto face defending champions Leningrad from Russia in the Final. It was an eagerly awaited game as the Russians had two former KHL players and a large bench of fantastic skaters. In a physical game that ebbed back and forth, the Titans edged the game 4-2 to lift the trophy, much to the delight of the large crowd.
Not only did the Titans dominate the tournament, they dominated the awards. Captain Anton Rimko won player of the tournament and goalie Marek Bialko won best netminder.
As Champions, the Titans now have to defend their trophy in St Petersburg 2012 where they will no longer be an unknown quantity!!
Full STD Report and photos to follow shortly.
With late notice and work and family commitments, the Titans only travelled with 6 skaters plus a goalie. Despite the small numbers and the exceptional quality of the tournament, the Titans won the gold medal, winning all seven games.
The early rounds were against teams from France, Spain and Germany of which the Titans dispatched quite convincingly. Waiting for them were Italian Champions HC Asiago (Mario Simioni and Hilton Ruggles former team) and again, the Titans got passed them beating them 3-1. In the Semi Final were Slovak Champs HC Slanec, a team that consisted of several ex-pro players. Titans dominated and beat those 6-0, going onto face defending champions Leningrad from Russia in the Final. It was an eagerly awaited game as the Russians had two former KHL players and a large bench of fantastic skaters. In a physical game that ebbed back and forth, the Titans edged the game 4-2 to lift the trophy, much to the delight of the large crowd.
Not only did the Titans dominate the tournament, they dominated the awards. Captain Anton Rimko won player of the tournament and goalie Marek Bialko won best netminder.
As Champions, the Titans now have to defend their trophy in St Petersburg 2012 where they will no longer be an unknown quantity!!
Full STD Report and photos to follow shortly.