Ice hockey: NZ slumps to first loss; China now in the box seat

The New Zealand men's team slumped to its first loss at its world championship event in South Africa yesterday.

A 7-4 loss to China has made it difficult for the Ice Blacks to claim the title at the world division two, group B championships.

They will be favoured to win their remaining games, against South Africa and Bulgaria, but will be powerless to stop the Chinese earning promotion if they beat Mexico and South Africa.

China has eight points from two outright wins and an overtime win, and New Zealand has six points from wins over Israel and Mexico.

It all went horribly wrong for the Ice Blacks in the final period yesterday.

They held a 4-3 lead over China heading into the last 20 minutes but conceded four unanswered goals.

Penalties were a major factor - the Ice Blacks racked up 20 penalty minutes in the period.

Former Dunedin goaltender Rick Parry, who minded the net in periods two and three, had a rough time, conceding five goals - three on the power play - from 34 shots.

Young Dunedin Thunder forward Connor Harrison scored the opening goal but the Ice Blacks trailed 2-1 after the first period.

China scored early in the second to make it 3-1, but the Ice Blacks fired three straight goals to end the period on top.

Southern Stampede veteran Bert Haines got one of the goals, and Dunedin forward Paris Heyd had two assists.

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