Finland Shocks Two-Time Defending Champions the United States in U20 World Championship Quarter-Finals.

Arttu Välilä scored the decisive goal at 2:11 of extra time as the Finnish squad pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory over the reigning two-time champion United States on Friday evening in the IIHF World Junior Championship last eight.

"We must give credit to the US," remarked Finland's leader Aron Kiviharju. "They are a hell of a team, loaded with exceptional individuals and a superbly organized team. But I mentioned we wanted that payback from last year, and I think we truly deserved it this evening."

In the semifinal matches on Sunday, the Finns will face Sweden, while Canada will meet the Czech Republic. The Swedes defeated the Latvian side six to three, Team Canada had a first-period five-goal outburst in a seven to one rout over the Slovakian team, and the Czechs overcame Switzerland by a 6-2 score.

Thrilling Final Frame and Extra Session

Michigan State’s L. Ryker knotted the score for the U.S. team with 1:33 remaining in regulation and the University of Notre Dame goalie N. Kempf off for an extra attacker.

Lee Tuuva and J. Saarelainen scored in a fifty-five-second burst in the third period to hand Finland a 2-1 lead. Tuuva leveled the score at 2 with 7:17 left, then set up Saarelainen’s go-ahead goal with six minutes and twenty-two seconds remaining. Saarelainen also earned a helper on Tuuva’s goal.

Key Contributions and Post-Game Comments

The BU defenseman Cole Hutson recorded a goal and a helper for the United States after taking a shot in the head versus Switzerland and sitting out the next two contests.

"I thought we executed well for a lot of the game," Hutson commented. "But the small details that they got, many of their high-quality opportunities came from our mistakes."

His BU teammate Cole Eiserman gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead on a man advantage with nine minutes and forty-five seconds left in the second period. He took a feed from Hutson and beat Petteri Rimpinen with a one-timer from the right circle.

C. Hutson tallied on a rush 35 seconds into the second. Heikki Ruohonen tied it at four minutes and forty-six seconds on a quick shot from the left wing.

Between the Pipes Summary

• Finland's goalie saved 28 shots.
• The American netminder recorded twenty-one stops.

The U.S. squad lost their final two games – losing 6-3 to the Swedes on Wednesday night in the group finale – after starting with their first three.

"It has been an honor to lead this group," stated the American bench boss. "Our guys played a great game tonight and came up just short. Give Finland. It's an empty feeling right now, but our players left everything on the ice."

Additional Quarter-Final Action

In the late game in Minneapolis, the Canadians overwhelmed Slovakia with the aforementioned first-period explosion.

Cole Reschny, Tij Iginla, M. Misa, S. O'Reilly and Brady Martin tallied in the first period, and P. Martone and Cole Beaudoin connected in the following period. Jack Ivankovic turned aside 21 saves.

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

In the first quarter-final, A. Frondell netted a pair for Team Sweden against Latvia. The defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius contributed a goal and two helpers to help the Swedish side remain perfect in their five outings.

In Minneapolis T. Galvas, S. Drancak, Adam Jiricek, P. Sikora, J. Klima and Jakub Fibigr provided the goals for the Czechs.

Consolation Game Result

The German team triumphed in the consolation match, beating Denmark 8-4. Manuel Schams had two goals to help his nation keep its spot next year in the top division. The Danish side dropped to the second tier.