The Inter-Korean women’s ice hockey team in blue fights for the puck against its Swedish opponents in their second match of Group B, at the Kwandong Hockey Center in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province, on Feb. 12.
By Sohn JiAe
Photos = Yonhap News
The inter-Korean women’s ice hockey team was defeated 8:0 (4-0, 1-0, 3-0), by Sweden in its second match of Group B on Feb. 12. With the loss, the unified team failed to advance to the quarterfinals.
Just four minutes into the match, the Swedish team got its first goal. The inter-Korean team gave up four more goals at 9:47 , 10:17 and at 17:04 in the first period.
In the second period, the unified team performed better, but it also allowed Sweden to score three more times.
Although the South and North Korean team had two losses following Switzerland on Feb. 10, the stadium was still buzzing with cheers and chants from the crowds.
The identically-dressed North Korean cheerleaders rooted for the team, chanting, “Go Korea!” and, “We are one!” while a throng of more than 90 North and South Korean cheerleaders, comprised of separated family members from before the Korean War, and the South’s men’s ice hockey team, joined in the chants, too.
Cheering squads from both South and North Korea root for the inter-Korean women’s ice hockey team, waving the unified Korea flag, as it faces off against Sweden, at the Kwandong Hockey Center in Gangneung on Feb. 12.
“We’ve never been in the Olympics before, never played the high-level teams like this before. Every time we lose, it’s just a chance for us to improve,” said coach Sarah Murray following the match. “After analyzing the two matches we’ve lost, we’ll prepare for our final match against Japan.”
The inter-Korean team is scheduled to face off against Japan on Feb. 14.
jiae5853@korea.kr