DORIAN GEIGER
Sports Editor
Jan. 2 (Relegation match and playoff quarter-finals)
Slovakia ”“ 3
Austria ”“ 2
Russia ”“ 3
Switzerland ”“ 4
SASKATOON ”“ In a flabbergasting upset, Russia dropped out of the IIHF World Under 20 Championship in a 3-2 overtime loss to Switzerland on Jan. 2 at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon.
Switzerland’s win came after captain, Swiss Olympic player and Anaheim Mighty Ducks’ property Luca Sbisa was sent home due to a groin related injury. Switzerland trailed 2-1 for most of the game and, with a mere 36 seconds remaining in the third period, Swiss player Nino Niederreiter threw the puck on the net, fooling Russian goaltender Igor Bobkov to even things at 2-2.
In eerily similar circumstances, with 13 seconds remaining in a scoreless overtime, Niderreiter again successfully tossed the puck on the Russian net to unexpectedly give the Swiss the win and advancement to the tournament semi-final game against Canada at 4 p.m. on Jan. 3 at CUC. Though Niderreiter was credited for the goal, it appeared his teammate Patrick Geer tipped the shot past the Russian netminder.
Time has been no friend to the Russian crew and it is the second year in a row the Russians have been eliminated from contention with seconds remaining on the clock after it appeared as if they had won. At the 2009 IIHF U20 tournament, Jordan Eberle tied the gold medal game with 5.4 seconds left and went on to score the shootout winner in Canada’s championship run.
The Swiss were already toppled 6-0 by Canada in round robin play on Dec. 29. and will have to brace for the storm when they face the Canucks for the second time in the semi-final.
U.S.A. ”“ 6
Finland ”“ 2
Finland was not as lucky in the upset department and fell to Team U.S.A. by a score of 6-2 on Jan. 2.
U.S. assistant captain Jordan Schroeder had two assists on the evening in what was anticipated to be an easy victory for Team U.S.A. Schroeder’s two points allowed him to surpass Jeremy Roenick for the No. 1 all-time scoring title for the U.S.A. junior team with 26. Legendary defenceman and ex-NHLer Ray Borque was even shown to be on hand by the big screen at CUC enjoying his son Ryan Borque’s win for the U.S.
The animosity from two nights prior towards our North American neighbours carried over to the quarter-final — the Canadian crowd showed no love for the U.S. and were bouncing off the walls any time Finland converted or had a scoring opportunity.
After playing a solid but losing game against Canada on New Year’s Eve, U.S. goaltender Jack Campbell got a rest in favour of backup tender Mike Lee who faced 44 shots in the U.S. victory. The Americans might have been victorious on the scoreboard but Finland could have easily notched a win on the evening and outshot the Yankees 44-25 ”“ the two empty net goals Team U.S.A. pocketed in the third period also misrepresents the actual closeness of the game.
For Team U.S.A., Chris Kreidner, Matt Donnovan, Danny Kristo and Kyle Palmieri also netted goals, along with a pair for Jerry D’Amigo. However, some of the offensive stealth Team U.S.A. showed against Canada on New Year’s was evidently lacking and the team is lucky Finland only came as close as they did.
The Red, White and Blue squad resumes World Junior action on Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. against Sweden in the tournament semi-final in front of 12,701 at CUC. The Americans should come up victorious against the Swedes but with a zany, last-minute comeback already witnessed between Russia and Switzerland at CUC, anything is possible.
Team U.S.A Player of the Game: Mike Lee
Team Finland Player of the Game: Jormakka Pekka
Check back for more updates as the IIHF U20 tournament winds down!
Look for the remaining tournament schedule underneath video interviews of U.S. captain Derek Stepan and assistant captain Jordan Schroeder following Team U.S.A.’s win over Finland. Also see below for the devastating break down of Finland’s loss by captain Jyri Niemi.
U.S. captain Derek Stepan Post U.S.A./Finland Game Interview:
U.S. assistant captain Jordan Schroeder:
Finnish captain Jyri Niemi:
IIHF World U20 Playoff Tournament schedule (all games @ CUC)
Latvia VS. Czech Republic (Relegation) 12 p.m.
Canada VS. Switzerland 4 p.m.
U.S.A. VS. Sweden 8 p.m.
Jan. 4 (Relegation and fifth place game)
Slovakia VS. Czech Republic 12 p.m. (Relegation)
Austria VS. Latvia (Relegation) 4 p.m.
Russia VS. Finland Game (Fifth place game) 8 p.m.
Bronze Medal Game: 3 p.m.
Gold Medal Game: 7 p.m.