Finland Stuns Two-Time Defending Champions US in World Junior Quarterfinal Round.

Arttu Välilä scored the decisive goal at 2:11 of overtime as Finland engineered a remarkable four to three victory over the reigning two-time champion American team on Friday night in the world junior hockey quarter-finals.

"Got to give full credit to the US," remarked Finland's leader A. Kiviharju. "They are a hell of a team, full of exceptional individuals and a well coached team. But I said we wanted that revenge from the previous final, and I think we truly deserved it this evening."

In the semi-finals on Sunday, the Finns will face the Swedish team, while Canada will play Czechia. Sweden beat Latvia 6-3, Canada had a first-period five-goal outburst in a seven to one romp over Slovakia, and Czechia topped the Swiss by a 6-2 score.

Dramatic Third Period and Extra Session

Michigan State’s L. Ryker knotted the score for the United States with one minute and thirty-three seconds left in the third period and the Notre Dame netminder Nick Kempf pulled for an additional skater.

L. Tuuva and Joona Saarelainen scored in a fifty-five-second burst in the third to give their team a two to one advantage. Tuuva tied it at 2 with 7:17 left, then set up Saarelainen’s go-ahead goal with six minutes and twenty-two seconds on the clock. J. Saarelainen also assisted on Tuuva’s goal.

Key Contributions and Post-Game Comments

The BU blueliner Cole Hutson had a goal and an assist for the Americans after taking a shot in the head versus Switzerland and missing two games.

"I thought we made good plays for a lot of the game," the defenseman said. "But the small details that they got, many of their high-quality chances resulted from our errors."

His university colleague C. Eiserman gave the United States a 2-1 lead on a man advantage with 9:45 left in the middle frame. He accepted a pass from his teammate and fooled the Finnish goaltender with a one-timer from the right side.

C. Hutson scored on a rush 35 seconds into the second. Heikki Ruohonen tied it at 4:46 on a snap shot from the left side.

Goaltending Summary

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

The Americans fell in their final two games – falling 6-3 to the Swedes on Wednesday night in the final preliminary game – after winning their initial three matches.

"It has been an honor to lead this team," stated the team's coach. "Our guys played a terrific game tonight and fell just a bit short. Give Finland. It's an hollow feeling right now, but our players gave it all they had."

Additional Playoff Results

In the late game in Minneapolis, the Canadian team routed Slovakia with the five-goal first.

Cole Reschny, Tij Iginla, M. Misa, S. O'Reilly and B. Martin tallied in the first period, and Porter Martone and C. Beaudoin connected in the following period. Jack Ivankovic made twenty-one shots.

"This demonstrates how powerful we are," B. Martin said. "Going up five-nothing lead, it really saps their morale."

In the opening playoff game, A. Frondell scored twice for Sweden against Latvia. The defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius contributed a goal and two assists to aid the Swedes remain perfect in their five outings.

In Minneapolis Tomas Galvas, S. Drancak, A. Jiricek, P. Sikora, Jiri Klima and Jakub Fibigr provided the goals for the Czech team.

Relegation Game Outcome

The German team won the consolation match, beating the Danes 8-4. M. Schams had two goals to help Germany retain its place next year in the main event. The Danish side dropped to Division I-A.