Team Italy remained undefeated at the IIHF Div. 1 World Hockey Championships with a 5-1 victory over Great Britain Wednesday in Budapest, Hugary.
Fruitvale native Pat Iannone continues his torrid pace, as he notched the winning goal on the power play 1:15 into the second period.
The Italians beat Korea, 4-0, and Japan, 4-1, in its two previous games, and Iannone continues to lead all scorers in the tournament with three goals and two assists.
The former Kootenay Ice forward one-timed a pass in the slot from Nicola Fontanive to break a 1-1 tie and set the stage for a three-goal outburst in the third, as the Azzurri dominated the Brits outshooting them 34 to 15.
Trail native Trevor Johnson was outstanding on defence and assisted on the first goal. Team Italy will now face its two toughest opponents in Hungary and Kazikhstan which they play on Friday and Saturday respectively. Kazikhstan is the only other undefeated team as they beat host Hungary 2-1 Thursday.
The top two teams will make it back to the Top Division and return to play against the world’s elite at the 2014 IIHF World Championships. Italy was relegated to Div. 1 after finishing at the bottom of their group at the 2012 Worlds in Stockholm.