Fri, Feb 10 2012

Bulgarian women's ice hockey annihilated by Slovaks

Mon, Sep 08 2008 16:18 CET

byNick Iliev

2570 Views 2 Comments

Bulgaria were thrashed 82-0 by Slovakia in a women's ice hockey qualifier for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Bulgaria's demise was further exacerbated by the fact that they have been, in large part, the blood donors of the group, losing 41-0 to Italy, 39-0 to Latvia and 30-1 to Croatia, that being the only time Bulgaria managed to score a goal.

On average, the Bulgarian side conceded a goal every 44 seconds in the Latvian town of Liepaja, trailing 7-0 after just five minutes, wrapping up the first period with a 31-0 deficit.

The astronomical thumping was one of the biggest defeats in sporting history along side Australia's 31-0 dismantling of American Samoa and Bon Accord, recording the highest-ever defeat in a British senior football match, losing 36-0 to Arbroath on September 12th 1885 in the first round match for the Scottish Cup.

The embarrassment, however, ought to be directed towards the Bulgarian Government rather than the ladies. With a population of 7.4 million, only three indoor ice rings in the country and only 37 registered female players, Bulgaria could have hardly hoped for a successful run in the competition, although this ruthless and systematic destruction was nothing short of a national embarrassment.

The only message to the Bulgarian ladies team would be: don't lose heart. You deserve your country's gratitude for participating, for this is what sports is really all about. You also deserve your governments' apology for embarrassing you in such way and for the pathetic state of affairs of ice hockey in the country.

  • Print
  • Send via email
  • Translate to
  • Share:

Comments

Anonymous Magda Tue, Feb 08 2011 22:48 CET
Report Comment

ja pierdole...

Anonymous pdh Tue, Feb 23 2010 19:03 CET
Report Comment

Did the Bulgarian women's hockey team really lose 82-0? Why, yes they did. Was it the worst hockey rout in women's hockey history? Well, actually, it wasn't, if you read down you'll find that it isn't. But how about THIS: Bulgarian goalie Liubomira Shosheva had an astonishing 57-saves. How many NHL goalies can say THAT? How's THAT for hanging in there? Considering, you know, she faced 134 shots in 56 minutes. To those calling for some sort of "mercy rule" and to call this game, I say why should these women, who have worked as hard as they can to [...]

 Read the full comment get into the competition in despite a horrifying dearth of resources, be deprived play because they are overmatched? Did they not show heart enough to hang in there to the very end? Okay, come on, guys, the entire country only has 3 rinks and 39 women hockey players. Just how well WOULD you expect them to do? I say that it took incredible courage and determination just to show up there, much less after losing to Italy (41-0) to continue to play then got whomped by Latvia (39-0), and then continued to soldier on and lost to Slovakia 82-0. What fortitude to continue on against such powers. I'm trying to imagine the determination and will that it must have taken after each incredibly lopsided loss they took to continue on as team after team showed them without doubt that they were outclassed by everybody. Imagine their strategy talks between games. Then, finally, they met Croatia. Did they win? No, they lost 30-1. After not having a single shot on goal in their 82-0 loss, they actually scored a goal. It seems to me that after being outscored 162-0 in the previous three games and being creamed by Croatia 30-1 that one goal that they finally scored must have felt sweet indeed. They DID, after all, not give up. They DID score a goal. I say good on 'em. That's my take. Bulgaria is now my favorite women's hockey team. Not only that, just look at that hottie holding up the flag in the pic. Those women are HEROIC!


To post comments, please, Login or Register.


Please read the The Sofia Echo forum comments policy.

More in this category

Berba back?

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov says he could reconsider international retirement.

Poland’s National Stadium not yet ready to hold football match

The Super Cup – a special game between Poland champion Wisla Krakow and Polish Cup winner Legia Warsaw was to be the first football event scheduled to take place at the venue.

Super Bowl XLVI features Giants-Patriots rematch

In 2012, the Giants are again the underdogs, after finishing the regular season with a 9-7 record and barely qualifying for the playoffs, compared with the Patriots' 13-3 record.

Turning heads

Czech 'dunking ninja' impresses peers during rookie campaign.

Olympic rights

Bulgaria's public broadcaster faces difficult road to securing broadcasting rights for Sochi and Rio Games.

© 2000-2012, Sofia Echo Media Ltd.

Web Design by RIZN

Sofia Echo Media is part of the Economedia Group.
The news and information content on this website is provided by our editorial team and is copyrighted. Any unauthorised reproduction or use of it is strictly forbidden. Reproduction of this website's content is permitted only with prior written permission from the Editor-in-Chief, should be propertly acredited and provide an active link back to our site. Comments posted by the website's visitors are independent of the editorial materials and do not represent the views of sofiaecho.com. Sofia Echo Media cannot be held responsible for the statements contained in visitor comments. The percentаge change in the shares' prices are based on the price of the last transaction of the current session compared to the price of the last transaction of the previous session. Bulgarian Stock Exchange data is not real-time, but updated every 15 minutes, and should not be used as a basis for decisions about buying or selling stock options.