The Finnish Team Stuns Two-Time Reigning Title Holders the United States in World Junior Quarter-Finals.

Finland's Arttu Välilä netted the winner at two minutes and eleven seconds of overtime as the Finnish squad pulled off a stunning four to three victory over the two-time defending 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 great players and a superbly organized team. But I said we wanted that payback from the previous final, and I think we kind of earned it tonight."

In the semi-finals on Sunday, the Finns will take on Sweden, while Canada will meet the Czech Republic. The Swedes beat Latvia six to three, Team Canada produced a first-period five-goal outburst in a 7-1 romp over the Slovakian team, and the Czechs overcame the Swiss by a six to two margin.

Dramatic Final Frame and Extra Session

Michigan State’s L. Ryker knotted the score for the United States with one minute and thirty-three seconds left in regulation and the Notre Dame netminder N. Kempf off for an extra attacker.

L. Tuuva and J. Saarelainen found the net in a fifty-five-second burst in the third to give their team a two to one advantage. He leveled the score at 2 with seven minutes and seventeen seconds left, then assisted on Saarelainen’s go-ahead goal with six minutes and twenty-two seconds remaining. J. Saarelainen also earned a helper on the first goal.

Notable Performances and Post-Game Comments

The BU blueliner Cole Hutson recorded a goal and a helper for the Americans after taking a shot in the back of the head versus the Swiss and missing the next two contests.

"I thought we executed well for a lot of the game," Hutson said. "But the little bounces that they got, a lot of their high-quality chances resulted from our errors."

His university colleague C. Eiserman gave the United States a two to one edge on a power play with 9:45 remaining in the second period. He took a feed from his teammate and beat Petteri Rimpinen with a quick shot from the right circle.

Hutson tallied on a rush 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 Summary

• Rimpinen saved 28 shots.
• Kempf recorded 21 saves.

The U.S. squad lost their final two games – losing 6-3 to Sweden on Wednesday in the final preliminary game – after starting with their first three.

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

Additional Playoff Results

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

Cole Reschny, Tij Iginla, M. Misa, Sam O’Reilly and B. Martin scored in the first period, and Porter Martone and Cole Beaudoin connected in the second. Jack Ivankovic turned aside 21 saves.

"Just goes to show how powerful we are," B. Martin remarked. "Going up five-nothing advantage, it really kills their morale."

In the first quarter-final, A. Frondell scored twice for Team Sweden against Latvia. The defender L. Sahlin Wallenius had a goal and two assists to help the Swedes remain undefeated in five games.

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

Consolation Match Result

The German team triumphed in the consolation match, defeating the Danes 8-4. M. Schams scored twice to ensure Germany keep its spot for the following season in the main event. Denmark was relegated to the second tier.