Koen Bijen’s hat trick saw the Netherlands ease to a 5-0 win over Austria which confirmed top spot in Pool A of the men’s EHC competition.

It took only 28 seconds to get on top. Derck de Vilder’s brilliant pass located Floris Middendorp on the left of the circle in space where he could pick out Thierry Brinkman sliding in – celebrating his 200^th cap in style.

Bijen got the next two, spinning and diving to score the first of them in the 20^th minute, and then he applied even more venom for this second in the third quarter.

For the fourth, Tjep Hoedemakers scored on the rebound, rough justice for goalkeeper Laurenzo Rizzi who produced one of the saves of the tournament just a few seconds earlier.

Bijen then completed the win with a touch to Thijs van Dam’s cross after some pinball in front of the Austrian goal.