Ice Blacks Open World Championships Campaign With 3-1 Win Over Chinese Taipei
The New Zealand Ice Blacks kicked off their 2025 IIHF World Championship Division II B campaign in Dunedin last night with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over a quick and skillful Chinese Taipei side.
From the first puck drop, Chinese Taipei impressed with their speed and agility, making for an exciting spectacle for the packed Dunedin Ice Stadium crowd. But it was the Ice Blacks who found the back of the net first, with Ivan Dalmatov (#10) opening the scoring midway through the first period, assisted by Luke Simon (#7) and Ian Audas (#15).
New Zealand doubled their lead early in the second period at 24:44, with Jacob Carey (#24) firing home an unassisted goal to give the home side some breathing room.
Despite New Zealand controlling much of the play, Chinese Taipei continued to push back and were rewarded late in the third with a goal that brought them within one. With time running out, Chinese Taipei pulled their goalie in a desperate bid to equalize — but it was the Ice Blacks who capitalized, as Colin McIntosh (#19) sealed the win with an empty-netter.
The game was not without its tension, with both teams racking up a flurry of penalties throughout the night.
After the opening round, New Zealand sits in third place on the standings. The team will face a quick turnaround, hitting the ice again tonight at 8:00pm against Georgia — a team known for its physical style of play.
It promises to be a bruising battle as the Ice Blacks look to continue their strong start and climb the rankings.
About the Ice Blacks
The Ice Blacks are New Zealand's national men's ice hockey team, representing the country on the world stage in IIHF competition. Known for their grit, determination, and fast-paced style of play, the Ice Blacks are a proud symbol of the growth of ice hockey in New Zealand. They regularly compete in the IIHF World Championship Division II tournaments and have a strong following at home and abroad.
About the IIHF World Championship Division II B
The IIHF World Championship Division II B is an international tournament featuring emerging hockey nations from around the globe. Teams compete for promotion to higher divisions, with each game offering valuable world ranking points. The 2025 tournament is being held in Dunedin, New Zealand, providing a rare opportunity for local fans to see world championship action on home ice. Teams include: New Zealand (Ice Blacks), Chinese Taipei, Georgia, Thailand, Iceland and Bulgaria
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
18 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Fox in share of lead at Canadian Open
New Zealand's Ryan Fox is in position for a second victory on the PGA Tour - and this time he feels like he belongs. He goes into the final round of the RBC Canadian Open tied with Italy's Matteo Manassero after they both shot 6-under-par 64s on Saturday at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley's North Course in Caledon, Ontario. "I always felt like I was on the outside looking in at Myrtle Beach but then kind of chipped in, and it was a bit of a whirlwind," Fox said. "I just feel a bit more comfortable in my own shoes. I feel like I belong a bit more out here, and just stuff doesn't seem to matter quite as much after getting that first win." Fox and Manassero are at 14-under 196, holding a one-shot lead on the trio of Matt McCarty (64) Lee Hodges (63) and Chinese Taipei's Kevin Yu (63) going into Sunday. Andrew Putnam (68), Jack Knapp (66) and Canada's Mackenzie Hughes (64) are two strokes back, while seven others are at 11 under. Putnam, who was in the day's final pairing, rolled in a birdie putt on the last hole. With 15 golfers within three strokes of the lead, the possibilities appear endless. "It's anyone's game at this point," Hughes said. "No one has been able to totally light this place on fire yet." There was a six-way tie for first place at 13 under late in the afternoon. "It's hard to say anything wasn't how I wanted it because I need to look at the bigger picture and I'm going to be standing in a really nice position," Manassero said. Manassero, who has never won on the PGA Tour, held the lead until his only bogey of the day when he used three putts on No 17. He got the stroke back with a birdie on the closing hole. "So I don't want (the bogey) to get in my head, and I don't want that to ruin anything or my attitude going towards the next shot," Manassero said. Fox, whose lone PGA Tour victory was in last month's Myrtle Beach Classic, was 5 under through nine holes, capping his round with a birdie. Hughes was in the playoff when Fox won the Myrtle Beach Classic. Yu likes his position, too. "I feel like (Sunday) everybody has still got to play good," Yu said. "... I have to bring my A-game out and still have to be reasonably aggressive." McCarty said he'll keep the same approach. "Just keep on doing what I'm doing and take advantage of the opportunity," he said. The golfers from Canada receive huge support from the galleries in the annual tournament. Fox said he remembered a 2024 round with Hughes. "I got to play with (Hughes) in the last round, and the support for him out there is amazing," Fox said. "You can see it out there now." Hughes said he embraces the attention and the support, something he'll aim to use to his advantage for the last 18 holes. "I can use them for energy. I can use them for momentum," Hughes said of the crowds. "We don't get that very often. If I go play anywhere else in the world and I'm playing the last round with anyone that's notable, I'm not the favourite. I'm not someone they're going to be rooting for. Here I have that going for me, and I think it's important to try and use it." Second-round leader Cameron Champ shot 71 without a birdie, saving par from the rough on the 18th hole to stick with the group at 11 under. Champ is a longshot given that when the week began he was the eighth alternate to even gain a spot in the tournament field. Other contenders at the halfway mark tumbled down the leader board. Canada's Richard Lee (70) and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen (71) and were knocked from their top-three spots and now are tied for 25th and 29th, respectively. Only 11 golfers had over-par scores Saturday. The third round was played without Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who missed a cut for the first time since last July. - Field Level Media
Otago Daily Times
18 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Fox, Manassero share Canadian Open lead
New Zealand's Ryan Fox is in position for a second victory on the PGA Tour - and this time he feels like he belongs. He goes into the final round of the RBC Canadian Open tied with Italy's Matteo Manassero after they both shot 6-under-par 64s on Saturday at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley's North Course in Caledon, Ontario. "I always felt like I was on the outside looking in at Myrtle Beach but then kind of chipped in, and it was a bit of a whirlwind," Fox said. "I just feel a bit more comfortable in my own shoes. I feel like I belong a bit more out here, and just stuff doesn't seem to matter quite as much after getting that first win." Fox and Manassero are at 14-under 196, holding a one-shot lead on the trio of Matt McCarty (64) Lee Hodges (63) and Chinese Taipei's Kevin Yu (63) going into Sunday. Andrew Putnam (68), Jack Knapp (66) and Canada's Mackenzie Hughes (64) are two strokes back, while seven others are at 11 under. Putnam, who was in the day's final pairing, rolled in a birdie putt on the last hole. With 15 golfers within three strokes of the lead, the possibilities appear endless. "It's anyone's game at this point," Hughes said. "No one has been able to totally light this place on fire yet." There was a six-way tie for first place at 13 under late in the afternoon. "It's hard to say anything wasn't how I wanted it because I need to look at the bigger picture and I'm going to be standing in a really nice position," Manassero said. Manassero, who has never won on the PGA Tour, held the lead until his only bogey of the day when he used three putts on No 17. He got the stroke back with a birdie on the closing hole. "So I don't want (the bogey) to get in my head, and I don't want that to ruin anything or my attitude going towards the next shot," Manassero said. Fox, whose lone PGA Tour victory was in last month's Myrtle Beach Classic, was 5 under through nine holes, capping his round with a birdie. Hughes was in the playoff when Fox won the Myrtle Beach Classic. Yu likes his position, too. "I feel like (Sunday) everybody has still got to play good," Yu said. "... I have to bring my A-game out and still have to be reasonably aggressive." McCarty said he'll keep the same approach. "Just keep on doing what I'm doing and take advantage of the opportunity," he said. The golfers from Canada receive huge support from the galleries in the annual tournament. Fox said he remembered a 2024 round with Hughes. "I got to play with (Hughes) in the last round, and the support for him out there is amazing," Fox said. "You can see it out there now." Hughes said he embraces the attention and the support, something he'll aim to use to his advantage for the last 18 holes. "I can use them for energy. I can use them for momentum," Hughes said of the crowds. "We don't get that very often. If I go play anywhere else in the world and I'm playing the last round with anyone that's notable, I'm not the favourite. I'm not someone they're going to be rooting for. Here I have that going for me, and I think it's important to try and use it." Second-round leader Cameron Champ shot 71 without a birdie, saving par from the rough on the 18th hole to stick with the group at 11 under. Champ is a longshot given that when the week began he was the eighth alternate to even gain a spot in the tournament field. Other contenders at the halfway mark tumbled down the leader board. Canada's Richard Lee (70) and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen (71) and were knocked from their top-three spots and now are tied for 25th and 29th, respectively. Only 11 golfers had over-par scores Saturday. The third round was played without Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who missed a cut for the first time since last July. - Field Level Media
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
World Cup dreams come true for rising young chess stars
Two 11-year-old Aucklanders are excited to compete in the Chess World Cup later this month. Sai Vivan Karthikeya Somaraju and Luna Lu will compete in the Under 12 Open and Under 12 Girls competitions at the FIDE world cup in Batumi, Georgia. Having won numerous titles in New Zealand and abroad, the pair aren't unfamiliar names in the domestic chess community. The duo was supposed to attend the 2023 World Cup in Egypt but dropped out at the last minute due to concerns about hostilities in Gaza. Sai Vivan Karthikeya Somaraju and Luna Lu play a game of chess in May. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin Born in Madanapalle, India, Sai came to New Zealand when he was 7 months old and was introduced to chess by his grandfather at the age of 6. "When I started chess, I was playing with my grandfather, and I used to lose to him consistently. Then I got my determination to beat him and eventually I did," Sai said. "And also, my uncle. He used to beat me even after I started beating my grandfather. That's where I got my real chess play after beating both of them." His recent achievements include second place in the Asian Championship in Australia in 2023 for Under 12 and a gold medal for under 10. Sai Vivan Karthikeya Somaraju is excited to compete at the upcoming Chess World Cup. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin Sai said he attended club nights at different places around Auckland every week and did puzzles and read books to prepare for the competition. "I'm nervous, but I'm confident," he said. "I'm hoping to at least get in the top three." Sai said lessons could be learnt from chess. "It teaches you about patience and it helps you in real life as well," the 11-year-old said. "I want to go in business when I grow up and there's a lot to do with business chess. If you know chess well, then you can make good moves in business." Sai's mum, Vyshnavi Bandi, said representing New Zealand was a "dream come true" for the young boy. "When he was 7 years old, I can still remember that he wanted to represent New Zealand," Bandi said. "He wanted to go out of the country. ... I'm very proud of him." Sai Vivan Karthikeya Somaraju and Luna Lu stand with their parents at the Auckland Chess Centre in May. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin Luna Lu came to New Zealand from Hangzhou, China, when she was 2 years old. She became intrigued by chess pieces when the then-8-year-old was reading a book about board games during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although Luna haven't been playing chess for long, she has won a lot of awards. Luna came ninth in the world cup in Georgia last year. "I remember the food was really yummy. ... It was like a buffet, and every day it was like different food, so you don't get bored of it," Luna said. "I think maybe now that I'm older, I think I might feel more confident than last year." Luna Lu also participated at the Chess World Cup last year. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin Luna's mother, Sandy Wen, also expressed pride in her daughter, noting that she worked hard for the opportunity. "I always feel that chess is like a calm and wise guide, gently leading Luna to discover more possibilities on her journey of growth," Wen said. "She has learned to face challenges bravely, to be tenacious in difficult situations and not to give up easily. ... These qualities are more precious than winning or losing and will make her more confident and resilient in life. "I didn't like setting a high expectation for her. ... I think as long as she is doing her best and she is having fun, that's great." Auckland Chess Centre president Bruce Wheeler Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin Auckland Chess Centre president Bruce Wheeler said chess had become more popular in New Zealand in recent years. "More people realise it gives their children a form of advantage, helping them to learn about concentration, discipline, competition, visualisation and the rewards of hard work," he said. Wheeler said it was "excellent" that Sai and Luna were going to this event, and his advice was to "play hard". "The only thing you can control in the game is how much effort you put in," he said. New Zealand Chess Federation president Craig Hall said it was an honour that New Zealand was invited to participate in the world cup. "Just qualifying at all is difficult and is a testament to the work put in by players, parents, coaches, clubs, volunteers, the New Zealand Chess Federation Council, sponsors and donors," Hall said. He also said both Sai and Luna were "very strong juniors with excellent results in NZ tournaments". "It's a tough field - making the top 10 would be a very strong performance," he said.
