The Finnish Team Upsets Back-to-Back Defending Title Holders the United States in U20 World Championship Quarterfinal Round.

Arttu Välilä netted the winner at 2:11 of extra time as Finland pulled off a stunning 4-3 win over the two-time defending champion United States on Friday evening in the IIHF World Junior Championship last eight.

"We must give full credit to the United States," remarked Finland's leader A. Kiviharju. "That's a hell of a team, loaded with exceptional individuals and a superbly organized team. But I said we were seeking that payback from last year, and I believe we kind of earned it tonight."

In the semi-finals Sunday, the Finns will take on the Swedish team, while the Canadians will play Czechia. Sweden beat Latvia six to three, Team Canada produced a five-goal first period in a 7-1 rout over the Slovakian team, and the Czechs overcame Switzerland by a 6-2 score.

Dramatic Final Frame and Overtime

Michigan State’s L. Ryker knotted the score for the United States with 1:33 left in the third period and the Notre Dame netminder N. Kempf pulled for an additional skater.

L. Tuuva and J. Saarelainen scored in a fifty-five-second burst in the third to hand Finland a two to one lead. He leveled the score at two-all with seven minutes and seventeen seconds left, then set up Saarelainen’s game-leading goal with six minutes and twenty-two seconds on the clock. J. Saarelainen also earned a helper on the first goal.

Notable Contributions and Reactions

The Boston University blueliner C. Hutson recorded a goal and a helper for the Americans after taking a shot in the back of the head against the Swiss and missing the next two contests.

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

His university colleague C. Eiserman handed the U.S. a 2-1 lead on a power play with 9:45 remaining in the middle frame. He accepted a pass 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 equalized at four minutes and forty-six seconds on a snap shot from the left side.

Goaltending Stats

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

The U.S. squad lost their last two games – falling 6-3 to the Swedes on Wednesday in the final preliminary game – after winning their initial three matches.

"It has been an privilege to coach 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 hollow feeling at the moment, but our players left everything on the ice."

Other Playoff Results

In the second match in Minneapolis, the Canadians overwhelmed Slovakia with the five-goal first.

C. Reschny, Tij Iginla, M. Misa, S. O'Reilly and B. Martin tallied in the opening twenty minutes, and P. Martone and C. Beaudoin scored in the second. J. Ivankovic made 21 saves.

"This demonstrates how powerful we can be," Martin remarked. "Going up 5-0 advantage, it really kills their morale."

In the first quarter-final, A. Frondell netted a pair for Team Sweden against Latvia. The defender Leo Sahlin Wallenius had a goal and two assists to help the Swedish side stay undefeated in five games.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis Tomas Galvas, Samuel Drancak, A. Jiricek, Petr Sikora, Jiri Klima and Jakub Fibigr scored for the Czech team.

Relegation Match Outcome

Germany triumphed in the relegation game, beating Denmark 8-4. Manuel Schams scored twice to ensure Germany retain its place next year in the main event. The Danish side was relegated to the second tier.