Brazil won the gold medal at the Men’s Pan American Junior Championships, held in Indianapolis (USA).
The U18 teams played at the tournament. Brazil secured the gold after a penalty shootout victory over host Team USA in the final – 13:10.
The bronze medal also goes to South America. Argentina emerged as the winner in a very thrilling 3rd-place match against Canada– 15:14.
Puerto Rico finished in 5th place.
2022 Men’s Pan American Junior Championships (Indianapolis)
Group stage
The group stage didn’t produce much excitement. Most of the games were one-sided contests. Team USA and Brazil dominated. They were too strong for the remaining three teams.
The Americans and the Brazilians faced off in the fourth round. Until the end of the third period, the teams were in a neck-and-neck race. Before the final eight minutes, the score was 10:10. The Americans netted four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter for a 14:10 victory. However, this win wasn’t very important. Both teams qualified for the gold-medal match since there were no surprises on the last day.
The encounter between Canada and Argentina was interesting, too. Two and a half minutes before the end, the teams were tied at 10:10. The Canadians scored the last two goals in the match for a 12:10 victory and secured 3rd place in the group and a spot in the bronze-medal match. Argentina had to play in the playoffs against Puerto Rico. But, Puerto Rico wasn’t a high hurdle. Argentina joined Canada in the bronze-medal game.
Day 1
Argentina – Puerto Rico 22:8 (5:3, 1:1, 8:3, 8:1)
USA – Canada 26:5 (6:0, 9:3, 7:1, 4:1)
Day 2
Brazil – Canada 21:8 (8:1, 3:1, 7:4, 3:2)
USA – Argentina 20:3 (5:1, 8:1, 2:0, 5:1)
Day 3
Canada – Argentina 12:10 (3:2, 4:2, 2:5, 3:1)
Brazil – Puerto Rico 29:5 (9:2, 7:1, 5:2, 8:0)
Day 4
Puerto Rico – Canada 10:18 (3:2, 2:3, 2:7, 3:6)
Brazil – USA 10:14 (4:2, 5:5, 1:3, 0:4)
Day 5
Brazil – Argentina 18:7 (3:2, 4:0,8:3, 3:2)
USA – Puerto Rico 28:0 (7:0, 9:0, 8:0, 4:0)
Standings: 1.USA 12 pts, 2. Brazil 9, 3. Canada 6, 4. Argentina 3, 5. Puerto Rico 0.
The playoffs for the bronze medal match: Argentina – Puerto Rico 17:8 (7:3,4:1, 4:2,2:2)
Medal matches
The medal matches didn’t lack thrills.
FINAL
USA – Brazil 10:13 (2:1, 2:3, 2:3, 3:2, PSO 1:4)
USA: Leichty 4, Arakelian 2, Dodd 2, Verdegaal 1, Tsotadze 1.
Brazil: Carsalade 4, Gomes 3, De Pauls 2, Depaula 2, Razera 1, Oliveira 1.
Brazil defeated Team USA after a very even contest in the final. At halftime, it stood 4:4. The Americans scored an opening goal in the second period – 5:4, but it turned out that it was their last lead in the match. Brazil headed into the fourth period with a 7:6 lead. Carsalade converted a man-up early in the fourth quarter, and two goals separated the rivals for the first time – 8:6. In the middle of the period, Brazil had a 9:7 advantage. However, Team USA leveled at 9:9 with 67 seconds left on the clock. After that, nobody found the net, and the drama culminated in the penalty shootout.
The Americans missed twice in the penalty series (Brazil’s goalkeeper Diogo Checchinato saved a shot in the first round) At the other end of the pool, Brazil scored four goals and won the gold with a 13:10 victory.
Bronze medal match
Argentina – Canada 15:14 (3:2, 5:4, 3:4, 4:4)
Argentina: Rizzo 5, Fernandez 4, De La Canal 1, Cybulski 1, Frassinelli 1, Sabelli 1, Bonifassi 1
Canada: Eidnsness 5, Marquez 3, Gillingham 3, James 1, Hexter 1, Di Nardo 1.
Argentina defeated Canada and secured the bronze medal with a last-gasp goal. The Canadians opened the game with a 2:0 lead. The South Americans responded with five goals in a row and went to 5:2. Canada leveled at 6:6. Argentina regained a 3-goal lead (9:6, 11:8). Still, Canada continued chasing the rival and caught up with Argentina in the fourth period (12:12, 13:13, 14:14). The North Americans had a man-up in their last attack and a chance to secure a win. Still, they didn’t find the net. Sabelli scored the winning goal from a counter-attack with just three seconds to go – 15:14.
Simultaneously with the men’s tournament, the Pan American Junior Championships for girls started. USA and Canada will play in the final.
