Polar Bears and Het Ravijn are the finalists who will compete for the Dutch title this weekend. In the semifinals they defeated ZVL-1886 and ZV De Zaan.
Polar Bears and ZVL-1886 were very evenly matched. On Friday, the team from Ede seemed to be heading for a controlled victory, but ZVL fought back with three goals in a row. Still, Polar Bears held the lead every time. The relieved 10-8 came in the last minute from Sam Kunz. David Spijker’s 10-9 was insufficient to turn it into penalties. That happened a day later. ZVL got off to a good start in its own pool. Until the beginning of the fourth period, John van den Burg’s team led (9-7), but that lead evaporated due to goals by Sam Kunz, Guus Wolswinkel and Marnick Snel. After four periods it was still tied (11-11), so penalties had to bring the decision. Polar Bears turned out to be more cold-blooded. Het Ravijn defeated ZV De Zaan. On Friday, Zeno Reuten’s team won remarkably well: 12-6. The Nijverdal-squad particularly impressed in the last period (5-1). Cup winner De Zaan was unable to grab the last chance on Saturday. Het Ravijn won with 9-10. From the second period.
Eredivisie Men
Semifinals play-offs (best-of-three)
Friday 20 May
Polar Bears – ZVL-1886: 12-11 (4-1, 2-3, 4-5, 2-2).
Polar Bears: Rick Meijer 2, Sjors de Kater 2, Lars ten Broek 2, Marnick Snel 2, Tarik Scherrenburg 1, Kas te Riele 1, Sam Kunz 1, Guus Wolswinkel 1.
ZVL-1886: David Spijker 3, Ruben van VIerzen 2, Mark Visser 2, Attila Kincses 2, David Voorvelt 1, Stan van Ruiten 1.
Het Ravijn – ZV De Zaan: 12-6 (3-0, 3-3, 1-2, 5-1).
Het Ravijn: Hugo Wouters 3, Bas ter Brake 2, Emiel Wouters 2, Yoran Loos 2, Jorn Muller 2, Jorrit Aanstoot 1.
ZV De Zaan: Casper van der Struijk 3, Stan Meijn 1, Phil Brantjes 1, Pascal Janssen 1.
Saturday 21 May
ZV De Zaan – Het Ravijn: 9-10 (3-2, 1-4, 2-3, 3-1).
ZV De Zaan: Jurriaan van der Struijk 3, Pascal Janssen 3, Don Rempt 1, Daan Bakker 1, Angelo Corver 1.
Het Ravijn: Jorn Muller 3, Hugo Wouters 2, Yoran Loos 2, Lars Gottemaker 1, Jorrit Aanstoot 1, Emiel Wouters 1.
ZVL-1886 – Polar Bears: 14-16 (4-3, 3-1, 2-3, 2-4 | penalties: 3-5).
ZVL-1886: Jasper Haasnoot 5, Yannick van den Burg 2, Lars van Nobelen 2, Stan van Ruiten 2, David Spijker 1, Mark Visser 1, Claudio Brancatello 1.
Polar Bears: Kas te Riele 5, Guus Wolswinkel 4, Lars ten Broek 3, Sam Kunz 2, Marnick Snel 1, Tarik Scherrenburg 1.
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