Portugal – India 4:3 (end) | Lebanon – Bermuda 3:2 (end) | USA – Switzerland 6:3 (end)
Cayman Islands – Armenia 3:6 (end) | Canada – Greece 5:0 (end) | Hong Kong – Great Britain 3:0 (end)
France – Haiti 4:1 (end) | Slovakia – Czech Republic 1:0 (3:2 after SO)
final
Canada
5:0 (3:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Greece
Friday 09.06.2017, 16:00 • World Cup (men) • Semi-Final
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 16:00 CEST, 17:00 EEST, 10:00 EDT.
     
    This is the first of two semi-finals for the men's tournament of the 2017 Ball Hockey World Championships. Both of these teams won their quarter-finals yesterday – Canada beat Switzerland 5-1, whereas Greece upset the USA 4-3 on an overtime goal by here by Kevin Kuzmarski.

    In the group stage, Canada was 2nd in Group A2 and Greece was 4th in Group A1.
     
    The teams are on the floor for pre-game warmups.

    Because Canada was a home team yesterday and Greece was a visiting team, this is Greece's home game, even though their group-stage seeding was lower than Canada's.

    Greece will wear white jerseys with royal blue trim, royal blue shorts, white socks, royal blue helmets. Canada will wear black jerseys with red and white trim, black shorts, socks and helmets.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Canada: Barlow (Flores) – Azevedo, Babij, Fortier, Kastas, Marshall, O'Keefe, Szolga, Wild, B. Yetman – D'Abadie, Detremont, Escott, Gingera, Du. Kelly, Dy. Kelly, Laurencelle, Marchuk, Martel, Merasty, Power, Reid, N. Yetman.

    Greece: Bitsakis (Vrettis) – Adamou, J. Barbas, Goulakos, Hinios, Pinios, Rompotinos, Tzaferis – Alvo, Argiris, E. Arkalis, P. Arkalis, M. Barbas, R. Barbas, Kakivelos, Karvouniaris, Klitrinos, Kuzmarski, Pitsikoulis, Romano, Vagenas.

    Referees: Černý, Horský (both CZE).
     
    The teams are on the floor and the opening faceoff is moments away.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:51
    Canada with some early offensive chances, play is stopped when the Greek net moves.
     
    01:31
    2 on 1 rush for Greece, Barlow makes a blocker save on Alvo's one-timer.
     
    02:10
    Icing Greece.
     
    02:53
    Goal for Team Canada!
    Canadians buzzing all around the Greek net, Bitsakis made a couple of saves but he was down and out as REMI LAURENCELLE was there to lift the second rebound over his pad.
    Assists: Nathan Yetman, Danick Martel.
     
    03:12
    Goal for Team Canada!
    And they get another 19 seconds later. This one is a shot from further out by DYLAN KELLY through a crowd in front that beats Bitsakis to the short side.
    Assist: Dustin Kelly.
     
    04:05
    Icing Greece.

    In the meantime, Canada almost scored a third goal but Bitsakis made a huge save from point-blank.
     
    05:04
    Penalty for Canada (Brian Szolga – 2 min., High Sticking).
     
    06:19
    The ball comes to Kuzmarski in front, wild scramble in the crease but Barlow covers it finally.
     
    06:19
    Penalty for Greece (Kevin Kuzmarski – 2 min., Slashing).

    He was called for a slash on the goalie's glove as he tried to whack the puck loose. Teams will play 4-on-4 for :44.
     
    07:10
    Canada now to the power play, and play is in the Greek zone.
     
    08:04
    Offside Canada with :15 left in the power play.
     
    08:26
    Greece back at full strength, ball rolls to Barlow, and he covers.
     
    08:41
    Offside Canada and Martel was on a breakaway if that wasn't whistled down. No argument though.
     
    09:40
    Feed right in front and it looked like he had Bitsakis beat but just couldn't tuck home the backhander.
     
    10:20
    O'Keefe from the high slot, stick save Bitsakis.
     
    11:37
    Ball hits someone on the bench, faceoff just outside the Greek blueline.
     
    12:47
    Ball out of play again, faceoff in the Canadian zone.
     
    13:10
    Canada 2 on 1, Laurencelle shoots wide.
     
    13:58
    Goal for Team Canada!
    A nice individual effort from DANICK MARTEL, taking a pass behind the net, then cutting out front, spinning to elude his check and beating Bitsakis with a bullet just inside the far post.
    Assist: Remy Luarencelle.
     
    14:43
    Dustin Kelly on a breakaway but Bitsakis makes a pad save.
     
    15:00
    1st period finished.
     
    Canada was dominant in that first period and they scored 3 times to lead 3-0. If the Greeks hope for another upset, they will have to play much better over the next two periods.

    Shots on goal in 1st period: CAN 10, GRE 5.

    Quality scoring chances: CAN 7, GRE 2.

    2nd period starts at 16:35 CEST.
     
    Teams on the floor and the second period will start shortly.
     
    15:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    15:21
    Offside Greece.
     
    15:42
    Canada on the offensive, ball deflected out of play in the Greek zone.
     
    17:40
    The two Kellys get great chances to score. First Dylan on a partial breakaway, then Dustin following up for the rebound, both stopped by Bitsakis.
     
    18:14
    Offside Canada.
     
    18:28
    Icing Canada.
     
    18:40
    Slapper from Kuzmarski, kicked out by Barlow.
     
    19:05
    Now a scramble around the Canadian goal but Barlow makes a big save.
     
    19:40
    Best pressure of the game from Greece, but Canada finally clears the zone.
     
    20:33
    Dangerous-looking Canadian rush, ball fed to Laurencelle, whose backhander just misses the far post.
     
    20:37
    Penalty for Greece (Spiro Goulakos – 2 min., Slashing).
     
    21:22
    Big slapper from Escott, stick save Bitsakis.
     
    22:10
    Canadians buzzing on the power play, but two big slappers both miss the net.
     
    22:41
    Nathan Yetman's drive is stopped, the ball pops into the air and grabbed by a Greek player. Play stopped, Greece back at full strength.
     
    23:42
    Penalty for Greece (Chris Vagenas – 2 min., High Sticking).
     
    24:17
    Goal for Team Canada!
    PATRICK O'KEEFE's big one-time blast from the point on the power play makes it 4-0.
    Assists: Victor Azevedo, Dylan Kelly.
     
    25:40
    Penalty for Canada (Justin Dentremont – 2 min., Hooking).
     
    26:00
    Shot from the point by Goulakos, save Barlow, a bit of a scramble but he covers.
     
    27:01
    Shot from the boards, Barlow knocks it down and covers with :38 left in the penalty.
     
    27:36
    Dustin Kelly uses his speed to get to the outside and get a good shot on goal, but Bitsakis makes a big glove save.
     
    27:36
    Coincidental penalty:
    Penalty for Greece (Peter Karvouniaris – 2 min., Roughing).
    Penalty for Canada (Derek Martel – 2 min., Roughing).

    After the whistle, words were exchanged and there was some pushing and shoving, resulting in off-setting penalties. In :03, the team will play 5-on-5.
     
    28:34
    Penalty for Greece (Michael Barbas – 2 min., Hooking).
     
    29:20
    Big slapper from Escott, blocker save Bitsakis.
     
    29:30
    Penalty for Greece (Spiro Goulakos – 2 min., Slashing + 10 min. misconduct penalty, Abuse of Official by Players / Team Officials). Penalty served by Adam Romano.
     
    30:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    Starting the period with a three-goal lead, Canada played a good defensive period, then started getting chances late as Greece ran into penalty trouble and added a fourth goal. They're now in full control with a 4-0 lead and they'll start the 3rd period with a 5-on-3 for another :34.

    Quality scoring chances: CAN 5 (12), GRE 1 (3).

    3rd period begins at 17:12 CEST.
     
    30:00
    Greece goaltender change: Alexander Bitsakis is replaced by Ioannis Vrettis.
     
    30:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    30:20
    Canada to the attack with the two-man advantage. Vrettis makes his first save.
     
    30:50
    Greece now one man short for another :40, Canada pressure continues, Bitsakis makes a save through a screen and covers.
     
    31:35
    Greece back at full strength and they clear the zone.
     
    32:33
    Icing Canada.
     
    35:25
    Greece pressing hard, scramble in the crease with Barlow down, finally cleared.
     
    35:36
    Penalty for Canada (Brian Szolga – 2 min., Interference).
     
    35:57
    Shot by Joshua Barbas, right on Barlow.
     
    36:47
    Goal for Team Canada!
    Shorthanded goal, as KEVIN REID took a pass at centre in full flight, ran down the right wing and fired a wrister that beat Vrettis short side.
    Assist: Derek Gingera.
     
    37:10
    Penalty for Canada (William Marshall – 2 min., Slashing).
     
    37:23
    Penalty for Greece (Kevin Kuzmarski – 4 min., High Sticking).
     
    38:05
    Teams now 4 on 4 and Barlow makes a great save on a chance right on front by Mario Argiris.
     
    39:06
    Penalty for Canada (Remi Laurencelle – 2 min., High Sticking).
     
    40:49
    Offside Greece, teams 4 on 4 for another :16, then a brief Canadian power play at the tail end of the double minor to Kuzmarski.
     
    41:40
    Greece back at full strength, D'Abadie's wrister is stopped by Vrettis.
     
    42:22
    Canada on the attack and Dylan Kelly hit by some friendly fire -- a slapper from teammate Martel. Play is stopped.
     
    42:50
    Martel at the side of the net, re-directs a shot just wide.
     
    43:15
    Greece with its best chance of the game, Joshua Barbas had the ball in behind Barlow, but the Canadian keeper managed to reach with his arm and prevent him from getting it across the goal line. Unbelievable that they didn't score.
     
    43:28
    Penalty for Greece (Nicholas Pitsikoulis – 2 min., Slashing).
     
    Game over.
     
    Canada took control of this game with 3 goals in the first period, then added one in each of the last two periods to win going away, 5-0. They advance to the gold medal game, while Greece will play for bronze.

    The other semi-final, coming up later tonight, features the Czech Republic vs Slovakia.
     
    Players of the Game:

    GRE – John Adamou, D
    CAN – Tim Barlow, G (17:38:45)
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 3. Laurencelle (N. Yetman, Martel), 4. Dy. Kelly (Du. Kelly), 14. Martel (Laurencelle), 25. O'Keefe (Azevedo, Dy. Kelly), 37. Reid (Gingera)

    Canada: Bitsakis (Vrettis) – Adamou, J. Barbas, Goulakos, Hinios, Pinios, Rompotinos, Tzaferis – Alvo, Argiris, E. Arkalis, P. Arkalis, M. Barbas, R. Barbas, Kakivelos, Karvouniaris, Klitrinos, Kuzmarski, Pitsikoulis, Romano, Vagenas.
    Greece: Barlow (Flores) – Azevedo, Babij, Fortier, Kastas, Marshall, O'Keefe, Szolga, Wild, B. Yetman – D'Abadie, Detremont, Escott, Gingera, Du. Kelly, Dy. Kelly, Laurencelle, Marchuk, Martel, Merasty, Power, Reid, N. Yetman.