🔗 Share this article

Finland's Arttu Välilä scored the decisive goal at 2:11 of overtime as the Finnish squad engineered a remarkable four to three win over the reigning two-time champion American team on Friday night in the IIHF World Junior Championship quarter-finals.

"We must give credit to the United States," remarked Finland's leader Aron Kiviharju. "They are a fantastic squad, loaded with exceptional individuals and a well coached team. But I said we wanted that revenge from the previous final, and I believe we kind of earned it this evening."

In the semi-finals on Sunday, the Finns will face the Swedish team, while Canada will play Czechia. The Swedes beat Latvia 6-3, Team Canada had a first-period five-goal outburst in a seven to one romp over the Slovakian team, and Czechia topped Switzerland by a 6-2 margin.

Dramatic Third Period and Overtime

The Michigan State Spartan L. Ryker knotted the score for the U.S. team with 1:33 left in regulation and the University of Notre Dame netminder Nick Kempf pulled for an additional skater.

Lee Tuuva and J. Saarelainen found the net in a 55-second burst in the third period to give their team a two to one advantage. Tuuva tied it at 2 with 7:17 left, then assisted on Saarelainen’s go-ahead goal with 6:22 on the clock. J. Saarelainen also assisted on the first goal.

Notable Contributions and Reactions

The Boston University defenseman Cole Hutson recorded a goal and a helper for the United States after being struck in the head against Switzerland and missing the next two contests.

"I thought we executed well for a lot of the game," Hutson commented. "But the small details that they got, many of their high-quality chances resulted from our mistakes."

His university colleague C. Eiserman handed the U.S. a two to one lead on a man advantage with nine minutes and forty-five seconds left in the second period. He accepted a pass from his teammate and fooled the Finnish goaltender with a quick shot from the right side.

C. Hutson tallied on a fast break 35 seconds into the second period. Heikki Ruohonen equalized at four minutes and forty-six seconds on a snap shot from the left wing.

Between the Pipes Stats

• Finland's goalie saved 28 shots.
• The American netminder recorded 21 saves.

The Americans lost their last two games – losing 6-3 to the Swedes on Wednesday in the final preliminary game – after winning their first three.

"It has been an privilege to lead this group," said the team's coach. "Our guys played a terrific game tonight and came up just short. Give the Finns. It's an hollow emotion at the moment, but our players left everything on the ice."

Additional Quarter-Final Results

In the late game in the host city, the Canadians overwhelmed Slovakia with the aforementioned first-period explosion.

Cole Reschny, T. Iginla, M. Misa, Sam O’Reilly and B. Martin tallied in the first period, and P. Martone and C. Beaudoin scored in the following period. J. Ivankovic turned aside twenty-one shots.

"Just goes to show how powerful we are," B. Martin said. "Going up five-nothing lead, it kind of kills their confidence."

In the first quarter-final, Anton Frondell netted a pair for Sweden against Latvia. The defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius contributed a goal and two assists to aid the Swedes remain undefeated in their five outings.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis T. Galvas, S. Drancak, Adam Jiricek, P. Sikora, J. Klima and J. Fibigr scored for the Czech team.

Relegation Game Outcome

Germany triumphed in the consolation match, defeating the Danes 8-4. Manuel Schams scored twice to ensure his nation keep its spot for the following season in the main event. Denmark dropped to Division I-A.