The ice hockey players of GIJS HEPRO Groningen had a busy weekend with a big loss (2-10) in a scheduled match against Nijmegen Devils, and a big win, less than 24 hours earlier, in Breda at Yeti’s: 2-13. Four players who took to the snow between both matches made the difference.
Coach Csaba Kercso already had the flu on Saturday, but still went to Breda, where he saw his team play an excellent game of ice hockey. GIJS won the first period 4-0, the second 5-1 and the last 4-1.
‘Best match of the season’
“This was probably our best game of the entire season so far,” Kercso was satisfied. “Of course we were given a lot of space and time against this weak opponent, but we also made good use of it and that has been different this season.”
Toms Breikss opened the score in Breda after just over 8 minutes, after preparatory work by Guy Kunst. GIJS finished 0-4 thanks to goals from Patrick Kiezebrink, Kunst and Flynn Hayward Jones. In the second period Vainius Jankauskas (2), Björn de Haan, Zahir Hup and again Kiezebrink scored and in the final period Kiezebrink scored his third, after which Hup, Joop Uchtman and again Hayward Jones lifted the score to 2-13.
Kercso was particularly impressed by the way in which the Groningen goals were achieved. “Almost every player of ours has scored, which is a good sign. We were sharp, gave little away and took a decisive lead early.”
Ski holidays were already booked
How different it was on Sunday evening in Kardinge. Guy Kunst, Wesley Zoutman, Danny Kerstholt and Joop Uchtman were no longer there at the time, the foursome had gone skiing in different formations after the race in Breda. This had to do with the last moment when the match against Nijmegen Devils was scheduled: the ski holidays had already been booked.
The match in Kardinge was initially going to be played on December 30, but GIJS wanted to release that date to its players, just before New Year’s Eve. January 21 ultimately turned out to be the only feasible date and GIJS, knowing about the winter sports holidays already booked, sulkily agreed. “There was no other option,” said team manager and vice-chairman Jacob van Gelder. “This loss was actually somewhat calculated.”
Still an early opening goal from Hup
Nijmegen, number 3 in the current Premier League, was master in Kardinge, although GIJS started promisingly with an early goal by Zahir Hup, partly prepared by 51-year-old veteran Ricardo Dijkema, who played again due to the staff shortage.
Already in the first break, Nijmegen Devils led 3-1 and the score eventually reached double figures: 2-10. Breikss scored the other GIJS goal. Coach Kercso, still sick with the flu late on Sunday evening, was disappointed about the big defeat, but was also resigned.
‘Two matches within 24 hours with many absentees’
“I feel very bad right now,” said the coach. “Because of the defeat and the flu. Two games within 24 hours, with seven of our best players not present (also the injured Tomas Krukovski, Ricards Ozolins and Sebastiaan Snijder were not there, sb), a win against Nijmegen was probably a utopia. It’s a shame, but that’s the way it is.”
Next week, when the winter sports enthusiasts from GIJS are back, the people of Groningen will host Smoke Eaters Geleen, the second team of the Limburg team that plays a division higher, in their own Kardinge.