ICE HOCKEY (8)

The world championships of my favourite sport started today, this time in Prague and Ostrava in the Czech Republic. And they got off to a humdinger of a start with a 5-5 draw in the pool match between the hosts and Sweden (Sweden won the subsequent penalty shoot-out). Sweden were often outplayed, but somehow ended up 4-2 ahead at the beginning of the third period. Then the Czechs scored three goals, the last with two minutes to go, and the crowd went nuts. But Sweden came back and equalised with a minute left on the clock.

The game was played at 100mph, and was end to end stuff. A great way to spend a Friday early evening.

Walter Blotscher