2017 World Sledge Hockey Challenge

JUNG SCORES FOUR, KOREA TAKES WSHC BRONZE

JASON LA ROSE

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Seung Hwan Jung did it all offensively, scoring four goals and adding an assist as Korea doubled up Italy 6-3 on Saturday to win the bronze medal at the 2017 World Sledge Hockey Challenge.

It is the second time in three years the Koreans have won bronze; they also made the podium at the January 2016 tournament in Bridgewater, N.S.

Jung scored twice in the second period and twice in the third, becoming the fifth player in tournament history to score four goals in a game, and the first since Nikolay Terentyev for Russia in 2013. The Koreans scored 12 goals in five games and Jung was in on eight of them (six goals, two assists).

Korea took an early lead when Jong Kyung Lee was left alone in front and redirected a Young Jae Cho pass under his sled and past Italian goaltender Santino Stillitano just 4:22 in, but Italy replied at 8:04 when Christopher De Paoli jammed a shot past Jae Woong Lee to send the game to the intermission tied 1-1.

Sandro Kalegaris gave the Italians their first lead 2:30 into the second period, picking the top corner past the blocker of Lee from the slot, only for Jung to tie the game on a behind-the-back tip-in five minutes later.

De Paoli got his second of the game at 8:32 of the middle frame, hammering a one-timer to the short side on Lee, but Jung struck again two minutes after that, parking himself in the slot and beating Stillitano to make it a 3-3 game after 30 minutes.

The Koreans pulled away in the third period, scoring on their only three shots.

Jung finished his hat trick at 2:14, jumping on a turnover in his own zone and racing away to beat Stillitano, and he set up Byeong Seok Cho in front for the insurance marker at 4:06 before picking off another errant pass and going to the backhand for the final goal at 8:19.