Farewell South Korea - World Ranked 27th Best Women's Ice Hockey Team

Lost 10-0 to Japan, 11-0 to Kazakhstan, 10-0 to China.

Then lost to North Korea 6-1 but when Kyousun Lee scored to make it 1-1 it was really great.



NK/SK warm up in demilitarised zone



Preconceived idea that they hate each other disappear when teams leave ice together

But SK players stay to talk to media in mixed zone

The Goalscorer

In some ways, the player of the games.

North Korea

Better than South Korea. Worse than Japan.

Wild Blow Outs

Ok, this is the situation. The Ice Hockey here in Kaz.

Men's Tourney....just imagine how small a team, how poor a team, Thailand could put together in Ice Hockey. Ok, have you got that image in your head? Thai National Ice Hockey. Well they just beat Bahrain 29-0.

Bahrain must be really shit.

They also lost to the United Arab Emirates 25-0. In fact most games in the second division of the Men's Second Division are blow outs. Kyrgyzstan will win it. Thailand second.

But in Almaty I am calling Women's Ice Hockey this week and it is great. South Korea are the only really weak side but they have an amazing goalie and they try soooo hard. Shin, the goalie, faced 101 shots against Kazakhstan and allowed 11 goals. 90 saves in one game! SK lost 10-0 to Japan and China, 11-0 to Kaz. I spoke through a translator to their captain Boyoung Choi, who is a ref back home and a big able d-man on the national team. She said she was happy with the results as they were better than losing 27-0 to Japan like they did three years ago. She was looking forward to the final game against North Korea because she thought they had a chance to win. I have seen North Korea play and I'll tell you something; they have no chance of winning that game.

Even if Shin makes another 90 saves.

This is already more than anyone has ever written about South Korean Women's Ice Hockey in English, so I'll stop now. Just a mention for Chearyung Ko and Kyousun Lee who are nice little players. And some photos of Sojung Shin; Great Netminder. A Star.

Sojung Shin

China v Japan

Match of the competition so far. So full of drama. China all over Japan and ahead after 1 period, but Japan dominating second outshooting opponent 21-3. Right back in it they got two tips in from blue line shots to take a 2-1 lead, but the first line of China are so good and Rui Sun decided the game belonged to her in the third period. China came back and led but Japan somehow levelled in the dying moments to force overtime....sudden death, but with the most influential Chinese defenceman, Qi off the ice injured and Sun in the penalty box we had 4 on 3 in OT. Tomoko Sakagami got a puck close in and there was only one thing she could do to score, find top corner from the angle, which she did. 4-3 Japan. Just watched the highlights back. I sound very excited on the commentary.