Home team starts with victory over Russia
Nearly a new WFC record in the amount of spectators (for WFC group matches) was reached in the ČEZ Arena A in Ostrava as the Czech team´s opening match versus Russia draw 5 108 fans to the arena.
The fans were not disappointed as the Czech team opened their WFC with a clear 8-1 victory. After a missed penalty shot the Czechs power play formation worked well, and two power play goals took Czech Republic into the lead. The home team increased their lead steadily and secured their victory with four goals in the third period.
It will be interesting to see if after tomorrow´s top match, Czech Republic versus Sweden, the previous spectator record for WFC group matches (5 620 spectators from 2002 WFC in Helsinki) will be history.
Pavel Kozusnik with 3-3 and Radim Cepek 3+2 were the most effective players tonight.
Team Poland playing strong
Team Poland, which was promoted to the B-division from the C-division in 2006, is starting to look as one of the favourite teams in the B-division, as the Polish defeated the Netherlands with 14-4. Mattias Mikulski scored 3+3 and was elected as best player of team Poland.
Team Estonia, the team which was promoted from the B-division 2006, gave the reigning bronze medallists a tough challenge in the first A-division match. The final score was 7-6 to Switzerland
The score was 5-5 when going in to the final period, then the Talme brothers, Kristian Talme scoring on Henrik Talme´s assist, took Estonia into a 6-5 lead. In 46.47 Andreas Cadisch evened the score to 6-6 on power play and the winning goal was scored by Christoph Hofbauer in 52.51. Estonia still had good equalising opportunities in the end of the match, but the shots only hit the goal bar, but still a good A-division debut for team Estonia.
In the first B-division match Germany won against Great Britain with 25-5.
Sweden did not give the Italians a chance as they won with 18-0. Sweden was leading with 2-0 already after only 65 seconds of play and did not let Italy into the game at all today.
David Gillek was the most effective player with four goals and one assist. Also Fredrik Djurling and Mattias Samuelsson also climbed to the top of the scoring chart with 1+3. 
Sweden´s next match is however going to be tougher as they will play against the home team tomorrow at 17:10. The Swedish defender Peter Fischerström is looking forward to play against the Czechs. Find out why from the Official WFC 2008 webpage.
Austria defeated Singapore with 8-2 in the second B-division match. Austria´s player of the game Peter Hofer (2+1) and Siegfried Sendlhofer (1-2) were the most effective players.
Norway won their first WFC match versus Denmark clearly with 7-3. Norway´s Raymond Evensen (3+3) and Willy Fauskanger (3+1) could take the Norwegians to a 7-0 lead before Denmark scored the first goals in the beginning of the third period.
Three goals in a row for Denmark during the final minutes, but the Danish comeback started far too late and Norway took quite an easy victory.
Tight match between Japan and USA
The quick Japanese players played their first match against the more technical players in the USA team. 715 spectators were following the entertaining match in the ČEZ Arena B, where the teams were leading the match in turns. The score was 3-3 when going into the final period.
Tamotsu Handa put Japan into a 4-3 lead in 44.50 after a pass by Jan Kondo.
It was however Ryan Winkler, who became the player of the match, as he first evened the score to 4-4 and then scored the winning 5-4 goal for USA in 49.46, which meant a hat trick for Winkler tonight.
Picture: WFC2008 Organiser
