06-10-2019, 01:12 PM
![[Image: ImjBajc.png]](https://i.imgur.com/ImjBajc.png)
Well the S47 IIHF is almost over folks and it's time to take a look at the current matchups for the semi finals!
Germany @ Ireland 
Germany has a mountain to climb here with Ireland as an opponent. Ireland has won 5 straight IIHF Gold Medals and knocking them off has been impossible in recent years. In a single game elimination tournament it's amazing what they have accomplished. The Germany squad was led by GOD McZehrl in the Round Robin as he scored 9 goals in 12 games to lead the tournament. McZehrl came up huge again in the Quarter Finals as he scored the game winner in OT to beat Norway. Germany last won gold back in S36 and their last medal was a bronze in S40.
Ireland was led in the Round Robin by long time star defenseman Jack Tanner. He had 14 points in 12 games. His D partner Liam O'Callaghan is also second on the team in scoring as this pair has been dynamite early. Both Hercules Rockefeller and Dermot Lavelle were huge as well for them with 5 goals and 5 assists each. In the Semi Finals the Irish faced up against Sweden and won the game 5-3. Ireland really dominated the game outshooting Sweden 47-22. Lavelle had the game winning goal and added 1 more and and assist for 3 points and first star of the night. Can Ireland make it 6 straight Gold Medals...?
UK @ Austria 
To get to the Semi Finals the United Kingdom beat up on Finland in a bad way in the Quarter Finals winning 7-1 and outshooting them 37-27. The UK scored 4 goals in the first period alone and it was just too much too fast for Finland. Xander Green was amazing as he put up 2 goals, 2 assists and a +5 with 5 shots on net. He had 10 points in the 12 Round Robin games as the UK was led up front by Rex Kirkby with 7 goals and 15 points. On the back end Harvey Danger is always a threat and had 2 great assists in the Quarter Finals and 12 points in the Round Robin. UK won the silver medal last year against Ireland and is looking to move up to gold this year.
The Austrian club was in a real battle against the USA in the Quarter Finals that they managed to win 3-1. The Americans outshot Austria 32-16 but Johannes Leitner was very solid in net for Austria and they managed to win the game. Shooter McGavin had 2 assists for Austria in the win and Richard Physt on D was very good, laying out 6 hits and adding a goal of his own. In the Round Robin they were led by 1st line center and international star Mike Izzy. Izzy had 7 goals, 7 assists in 12 games and will need to come up huge in this tough match against the UK. Austria last won gold in S33 and their last medal was a bronze back in S45.
Well who do you think will win and advance to the Gold Medal game??
ps: If you noticed the index shows the wrong teams, that is an error by me. These are the correct match-ups.
