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2017 IIHF Worlds: Italy scores tragic own goal (Video)

By Dave Stevenson

COLOGNE, GERMANY - MAY 7, 2017: Italy's goalie Frederic Cloutier (background) in the 2017 IIHF World Championship Preliminary Round Group A ice hockey match against Russia at Lanxess Arena. The Russian team won the game 10-1. Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS (Photo by Anton Novoderezhkin\TASS via Getty Images)
COLOGNE, GERMANY - MAY 7, 2017: Italy's goalie Frederic Cloutier (background) in the 2017 IIHF World Championship Preliminary Round Group A ice hockey match against Russia at Lanxess Arena. The Russian team won the game 10-1. Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS (Photo by Anton Novoderezhkin\TASS via Getty Images) /
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The 2017 IIHF Worlds were a non-stop nightmare for Italy. Naturally, they concluded it with one of the worst own goals of all-time. 

Italy is trying very hard to grow the game of hockey. They’re slowly but steadily starting to grow a program which might one day soon produce an active NHLer. Their last one (Tony Tuzzolino) was born in 1975 and only played nine games. Italy thought the 2017 IIHF Worlds would be a good opportunity to showcase their talent. Instead, all they did was score one of the most tragic, yet hilarious, own goals ever.

This almost requires the infamous “I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul” speech from Billy Madison. So many things go wrong for Italy on this play. First of all, if you pull your goalie, don’t pass the puck backwards, especially not in your own zone. Secondly, if you absolutely must do so, make sure the players behind you are ready for it.

Italy did a terrible job at the competition. In seven games, they got shutout twice and only scored a combined six goals. Italy got more than one goal just once during the entire tournament. They got outscored by an almost impressively terrible 32-6 margin. Granted, over half of the goals against (18 to be exact) came from two games against Russia (10 goals) and Sweden (8 goals). But still, that’s pretty embarrassing.

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Despite having an IIHF Worlds tournament to forget, Italy’s growing the game of hockey. It wasn’t too long ago they have several players in the NHL. Italy hung in there relatively well against Latvia and Slovakia. It might not be as good as holding their own against Russia, Canada, Sweden or even the United States, but hey, it’s a start.

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