Aussies Face Wall Of China

Newcastle Herald

Saturday April 12, 2008

By JOSH LEESON

THE Ice Hockeyroos are on the cusp of division one promotion and possible Winter Olympics qualification and only China stand in their way.

Australia lead on nine points and China are second on seven with two matches left in the division two World Ice Hockey championships at Warners Bay.

Australia beat New Zealand 4-2 on Thursday night after the scores were 2-all at the end of the second period.

The Ice Hockeyroos meet Iceland today before taking on China tomorrow in the possible gold medal match.

China need to beat New Zealand and then defeat Australia in regulation time to win the tournament.

Tournament correspondent Peter Lambert said Novocastrians had got behind the event with sold-out crowds.

"A few weeks ago we'd only sold 50 seats and we were sweating bricks, now we've had 800 seats sold out," he said.

Australia's games against Iceland and China are both sold out but their are still tickets available for other matches.