🔗 Share this article

Finland's Arttu Välilä scored the decisive goal at 2:11 of extra time as Finland engineered a remarkable four to three win over the two-time defending champion United States on Friday night in the IIHF World Junior Championship quarter-finals.

"We must give credit to the US," stated Finland's leader A. Kiviharju. "They are a fantastic squad, loaded with exceptional players and a superbly organized team. But I mentioned we wanted that revenge from the previous final, and I think we kind of earned it tonight."

In the semifinal matches Sunday, the Finns will face Sweden, while the Canadians will play the Czech Republic. The Swedes beat the Latvian side six to three, Team Canada had a first-period five-goal outburst in a seven to one rout over Slovakia, and Czechia topped Switzerland by a six to two margin.

Dramatic Final Frame and Extra Session

The Michigan State Spartan L. Ryker tied it for the U.S. team with one minute and thirty-three seconds remaining in the third period and the Notre Dame netminder N. Kempf off for an extra attacker.

Lee Tuuva and J. Saarelainen found the net in a fifty-five-second span in the third period to hand Finland a two to one advantage. He tied it at two-all with seven minutes and seventeen seconds to go, then assisted on his teammate's game-leading goal with six minutes and twenty-two seconds remaining. Saarelainen also assisted on Tuuva’s goal.

Key Performances and Reactions

The BU blueliner Cole Hutson recorded a goal and an assist for the Americans after being struck in the back of the head against the Swiss and missing the next two contests.

"I thought we made good plays for most of the game," the defenseman commented. "But the small details that they got, many of their high-quality opportunities came from our errors."

His BU teammate Cole Eiserman handed the U.S. a 2-1 lead on a man advantage with 9:45 left in the middle frame. He took a feed from Hutson and beat Petteri Rimpinen with a one-timer from the right side.

Hutson scored on a rush thirty-five seconds into the second period. H. Ruohonen equalized at four minutes and forty-six seconds on a snap shot from the left side.

Between the Pipes Stats

• Rimpinen saved 28 shots.
• Kempf made twenty-one stops.

The Americans fell in their final two games – losing 6-3 to Sweden on Wednesday night in the group finale – after starting with their initial three matches.

"It was an privilege to coach this group," stated the American bench boss. "Our guys played a terrific game today and fell just a bit short. All credit to the Finns. It's an hollow feeling at the moment, but our players gave it all they had."

Additional Playoff Action

In the second match in the host city, the Canadian team overwhelmed Slovakia with the aforementioned first-period explosion.

C. Reschny, Tij Iginla, M. Misa, Sam O’Reilly and Brady Martin scored in the first period, and P. Martone and C. Beaudoin connected in the following period. Jack Ivankovic turned aside 21 saves.

"Just goes to show how dominant we are," B. Martin remarked. "Taking a five-nothing lead, it kind of kills their confidence."

In the first quarter-final, Anton Frondell netted a pair for Team Sweden against Latvia. The defenseman L. Sahlin Wallenius had a goal and two assists to aid the Swedish side remain perfect in five games.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis Tomas Galvas, Samuel Drancak, Adam Jiricek, P. Sikora, J. Klima and Jakub Fibigr provided the goals for the Czechs.

Consolation Match Result

The German team won the consolation match, defeating the Danes eight to four. M. Schams scored twice to ensure his nation retain its place next year in the top division. Denmark dropped to Division I-A.