International Friendly: Luxembourg - Ireland 5-3 (0-0;3-2;2-1) 2004-11-13

The first encounter for Team Luxembourg to prepare for the March 2005 World Championship. Coach Hakan Grönlund could not count on first goaltender Michel Welter (in Finland), Patrick Schon (holidays), Joel Holtzem (in England) and Thierry Holtzem (regular season match of his team Epinal 2 against and in Wasquehal). Christophe Thiry was on the roster despite his studies in Grenoble, France. Team Ireland showed up with a great many players, a.o. three goaltenders (the second No. 21 not listed below).

Rosters

		Luxembourg			Ireland
G	20	Philippe Lepage		1	Kevin Kelly
G	26	Pascal Kremer		26	Dermot Carney
D	3	Serge Milano		19	David Morrison
D	12	Farncois Schons		8	Lyme O'Connor
D	25	Christophe Thiry		6	Clifford Saunders
D	14	Ronny Scheier		16	Robert Leckey
D	7	Rafael Springner		17	Phillip McMaster
D	17	Christophe Hernandez		23	Dimitry Slavashevsky
D	23	Roy Schmal		5	David Kelly
D				24	Patrick McCabe
F	2	Yves Dessouroux		25	Steven Hammill
F	5	Georges Scheier		21	William Morrison
F	4	David Kraus		7	Phillip Darcy
F	11	Robert Beran		4	Ross Killen
F	10	Benny Welter (Captain)		12	Gareth Martin
F	24	Alain Schneider		11	David Gibson
F	6	Jeff Meyer		9	Gary McKeag
F	18	Jean-Marie Funk		10	Mark Bowes
F	21	Robert Post		28	Keith Daly
F				14	Jonathan Keaney
F				18	Steven Cooper
F				15	Terence Craig

The match start hopeful for Team Luxembourg. In the first minute of play a shot by Georges Scheier hits the goal post. Right after that Phillip Darcy of Ireland tries his luck. He frees himself of defensemen and let go a dangerous shot, which Philippe Lepage ably blocks. And right from the start it is clear that this match is also a clash of hockey styles. The Irish favouring the tough Canadian way of play and Team Luxembourg preferring the European passing game. Then several players have to cool down in the penalty box, ordered there by German referee Thomas Frenzel. Christophe Thiry slaps from the blueline. But by now it isd clear to everyone a heck of a goalie (Kevin Kelly) is defending the Irish net. Wave after wave of attacks are set up by Team Luxembourg but Kevin Kellly is always the winner. A Benny Welter shot is kicked aside; Robert Beran is denied on a solo; a nice backward pass by Robert Beran is picked up by Benny Welter but he aimes at the goaltender; a rebound by Alain Schneider is the prey of Kevin Kelly. Only two breaks by the Irish could be recorded. Defenseman Dimitry Slavashevsky fires a shot which is ably gloved by Philippe Lepage. Careless defensive performance allows Keith Daly to drive the puck forward on the left. In alone on Philippe lepage he aims for the far top corner. Again the glove of Philippe is faster. Francois Schons and Ronny Scheier test the goalie with blueline blasts. A wrist shot by Robert Beran is blocked. Yves Dessouroux passes in open ice in the slot. Georges Scheier dives for the puck, but tips the puck wide using his stick singlehanded. A wrist shot by Robert Beran is reflected into the corner of the ice by the goalie's legguard. The final chance of the period comes when Francois Schons from behind the net feeds David Kraus. The puck deflects from his stick heading for the net. Via the goalie he gets a second chance. But standing to close in he cannot flip the puck over the sliding Kelly. And that is why it is still 0-0 after twenty minutes. Hakan Grönlund is not amused and tells his players in the intermission that positioning themselves in front of the net is important.

The tough Irish way of playing led to penalties early in the scond stanza. First Phillip Darcy and then Robert Leckey have to warm the penalty bench. A second after Ireland is back at full strength Robert Beran hit the net for 1-0 (23.27). From the face off by Benny Welter Alain Schneider gets posession of the puck and feeded Robert Beran. Only Alain earned an assist on Beran's marker. The Irish are more confident in period two. Lyme O' Connor shoots at the net, but is denied. And a Gareth Martin sails over the goalcage. Then another face off in the Luxembourg attacking zone. Jean-Marie Funk wins the face off. A slapshot by Ronny Scheier finds it's way home, 2-0 at 25.42. With these two goals Luxembourg seems in command. But the Irish come back. At first a shot by Lyme O'Connor flies over the net. But the shot by Gareth Martin goes in, 2-1 after 26.36. Lyme O'Connor and Gareth Martin earn an assist on this marker. After that Francois Schons is sent to the penalty box for interference and Benny Welter is soon keeping him company on an unsportmanlike conduct penalty. With a two man advantage Ireland sets up play before Philippe Lepage. William Morrison passes to Gareth Martin, who feeds Dimitry Slavashevsky on the blueline. Dimitry lets one go and scores the equilizer, 2-2 at 28.28. Robert Beran creates himself an opportunity twice but he did not score. But then defenseman Francois Schons cruises in front of the net with the puck. He skates in front of the goalie and scores with a backhander, 3-2 at 35.04. At the other side of the rink Phillip Darcy tries a wrap around. But if you want to beat Philippe Lepage in that manner you have to rise very early. Francois Schons is sent to the box to cool down and the Irish have every opportunity to get a third goal. But for goaltender Philippe Lepage. Seconds before the second intermission an Irish shot hits the goal post. Every good goalie has his lucky spells.

Rafael Springer gets regular shifts in the third period. Georges Scheier has the first opportunity in the final twenty minutes. But his tip in on a David Kraus pass is to soft. Gareth Martin executes a wrap around, but Philippe denies him. And then at 45.35 the equilizer for 3-3 is in the net. Dimitry Slavashevsky sets up William Morison, who beats the Luxembourg goalie. That goal marks the starting point of a second massive attack on the Irish goal. Robert Beran, Yves Dessouroux and Benny Welter are denied by Goalie Kevin Kelly. A shot by Francois Schons gets lost in the wood of legs in front of the net. A shot by Ronny Scheier sails just wide and a pass from behind the net from Benny Welter is directed against the body of the netminder by Robert Beran. Then a beautiful team play by Team Luxembourg. Benny Welter passes to Alain ASchneider, who scores 4-3 after 50.48. After this marker Luxembourg creates the most scoring oppotunities. But a shot by Jean-Marie Funk hit the side of the net and Georges Scheier gets the puck too close in on the goaltender to push the rubber beside him into the goalcage. But then number 12 Francois Schons acts a bit careless and the Irish number 12 takes over an speeds in alone on Lepage. Francois is unable to intercept him, but then there is Serge Milano who clears the situation. Still a tight match the Irish do themselves no good when they are caught with too many men on the ice in the final minutes of play. Ross Killen sits out the penalty, which is called at 57.21. In his own end David Morrison takes over from a Luxembour attacker in the corner. David passes the puck blindly into his own slot. Where Robert Beran is cruising at that moment. With a beautiful wrist shot Robert beran puts the puck top shelf in the left corner, 5-3 at 58.13. David Kraus shoot while turning and Jonathan Keaney tries a shot, but the match is done.

In all a justified win for Team Luxembourg. They were technically speaking the better team and dominated the match for most of the time. But beside the first period the Irish were cocky in their play and Luxembourg had a little difficulty adjusting to their tough style of play. 42-year old Alain Schneider, who signed for the game winning goal, told me afterwards it would be definitely be his last appearance for the Luxembourg National team. Please note that Christophe Thiry travelled all the way from grenoble, France te reinforce the Luxembourg defense.

Photos part I

Photos part II

Press release 2004-11-08 - Preview of the match

Press release 2004-11-15 - FLHG match report

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