Korea University (KU) scored a decisive victory of 4:1 against Yonsei University (YU) in the 2022 Ko-Yon Ice Hockey Games held on October 28 at Mokdong Ice Rink. Never losing a head start ahead of YU in all three innings, KU showcased magnificent coordination skills amidst a hot-headed match.
KU started off strong from the commencement of the first inning. The game’s first goal was made by Kang Min-Wan, leader of KU’s ice hockey team, four minutes into the game. YU players aimed for retaliation by crowding tightly around KU’s goalie, but KU’s players sharply pulled the puck back in their favor. Near halfway into the period, Kim Sung-jae scored a second KU goal. At 14:22, Moon Jin-hyuk scored a solo shot smoothly into the YU nets, marking the last goal of the first inning. The first period concluded with a KU lead of 3:0.
The second inning saw a conspicuous buildup of tension. At the start of the period, KU was one short of a player with Lee Hyung-seok attaining a penalty. YU players, visibly determined on flipping the odds back to their favor, roughhoused near the KU nets for nearly a minute. YU sharply shot the puck around in a tight offensive formation of 3 players but failed to make a goal, with KU’s goalie Kim Gi-hwan skillfully stopping the pucks from rebounding.
5 minutes into the game, Jeong Ho-yeon and Lee Hyung-seok each received penalties, placing KU at a strained numerical disadvantage. YU continued with its strategy of compactly grouping around KU’s goal and shooting the puck in piercing attack formations, with Kim Hyo-seok scoring the first YU goal five minutes into the game. Due to numerical disadvantages, KU did not offer as strong an offensive strategy as the first inning. Not yielding its impressive defense, however, KU concluded the game with only a singular YU goal at 3:1.
The third period saw a return of explosive offenses on KU’s part. Matters took a violent turn as physical altercations broke out, with players slamming others into stadium walls and bumping each other to the floor. Amidst an increasingly heated game, KU maintained its defense against YU’s increasingly shrewd offenses. Cho Hyun-kyum of KU was the last player in the third inning to score a goal 13 minutes into the game. Both sides never lost focus till the very end, but YU ultimately failed to bridge the widened gap.
KU’s side of the stadium erupted in ecstasy the second the third period ended, as players gleefully threw their helmets and hockey sticks into the air. “Even when I am born again into a different life,” avowed Kang Min-Wan, captain of the ice hockey team, as he gave a celebratory speech on the podium with the KU Cheerleaders, “I will always proudly wear my crimson uniform and play for Korea University!”
Ice hockey was the second game played on October 28, with KU gaining wins in two of the three games on that day. Today, KU will again face off against YU in rugby and soccer in Goyang Stadium. KU currently stands at a total lead of 2:1 — both schools hold their breath as they await the next fold-out of events that would decide on the winner of the Ko-Yon Games.