🔗 Share this article

Arttu Välilä scored the decisive goal at two minutes and eleven seconds of extra time as the Finnish squad pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory over the reigning two-time 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 Aron Kiviharju. "That's a fantastic squad, loaded with exceptional individuals and a superbly organized team. But I mentioned we wanted that payback from last year, and I believe we truly deserved it tonight."

In the semi-finals Sunday, Finland will take on the Swedish team, while the Canadians will play Czechia. Sweden beat Latvia 6-3, Canada produced a five-goal first period in a seven to one rout over Slovakia, and Czechia topped the Swiss by a 6-2 score.

Thrilling Third Period and Extra Session

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

Lee Tuuva and J. Saarelainen scored in a 55-second span in the third to hand Finland a two to one advantage. Tuuva tied it at 2 with 7:17 left, then assisted on Saarelainen’s game-leading goal with 6:22 on the clock. Saarelainen also assisted on the first goal.

Key Contributions and Reactions

The BU blueliner Cole Hutson had a goal and an assist for the United States after taking a shot in the back of the head versus the Swiss and sitting out two games.

"In my opinion we executed well for most of the game," Hutson commented. "But the little bounces that they got, a lot of their Grade-A chances resulted from our errors."

His university colleague C. Eiserman gave the United States a two to one lead on a man advantage with 9:45 left in the second period. He took a feed from his teammate and fooled the Finnish goaltender with a one-timer from the right circle.

C. Hutson tallied on a fast break thirty-five seconds into the second. H. Ruohonen tied it at 4:46 on a snap shot from the left wing.

Between the Pipes Stats

• Rimpinen saved 28 shots.
• The American netminder recorded 21 saves.

The Americans fell in their last two games – losing 6-3 to the Swedes on Wednesday in the group finale – after starting with their first three.

"It has been an privilege to lead this group," stated the American bench boss. "They played a terrific game today and fell just a bit short. All credit to Finland. It's an empty emotion right now, but our players gave it all they had."

Additional Quarter-Final Results

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

Cole Reschny, Tij Iginla, M. Misa, S. O'Reilly and Brady Martin tallied in the first period, and P. Martone and C. Beaudoin connected in the second. Jack Ivankovic turned aside twenty-one shots.

"Just goes to show how powerful we can be," B. Martin remarked. "Taking a five-nothing lead, it really kills their morale."

In the opening playoff game, A. Frondell netted a pair for Sweden against Latvia. The defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius had a goal and two assists to help the Swedish side stay perfect in their five outings.

In Minneapolis T. Galvas, Samuel Drancak, A. Jiricek, Petr Sikora, Jiri Klima and J. Fibigr scored for the Czechs.

Consolation Match Outcome

The German team won the consolation match, beating Denmark eight to four. Manuel Schams had two goals to help Germany retain its spot next year in the top division. The Danish side dropped to Division I-A.