2014 IIHF WJC – Quarter Final Results
The 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship includes 55 current CHL players and five graduates competing in Malmo, Sweden. Here is a recap of Thursday’s Quarter-Final action:
Canada 4 vs. Switzerland 1
For the 16th straight year Canada’s National Junior Team has advanced to the Semi-Finals of the IIHF World Junior Championship following a 4-1 win over Switzerland.
Canada was the first place team in Group A up against Switzerland who finished fourth in Group B, and will now face Finland Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm Eastern live on TSN/RDS.
New York Islanders prospect Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton Oil Kings) was named Canada’s Best Player with a goal and one assist.
Reinhart’s goal opened the scoring with under two minutes to play in the first period giving Canada the edge after 20 minutes.
Anthony Mantha (Val-d’Or Foreurs) scored on a penalty shot midway through the second period recording his tournament-high 11th point.
Switzerland cut the Canadian lead to 2-1 with a last second goal with Mirco Mueller (Everett Silvertips) picking up an assist.
Ottawa Senators prospect Curits Lazar (Edmonton Oil Kings) put Canada ahead 3-1 at 4:11 of the third period before Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Derrick Pouliot (Portland Winterhawks) tallied Canada’s fourth goal at 13:49.
Zach Fucale (Halifax Mooseheads) made 19 saves in goal for the victory.
Following the game, Fabrice Herzog (Quebec Remparts) and Jason Fuchs (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) were among the three Best Players on Switzerland as selected by the coaches.
Semifinal winners will meet Sunday in the gold medal game at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, while the bronze medal game is set for 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT, both at Malmö Arena.
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All of Canada’s games at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship are broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS. Check your local listings, www.tsn.ca or www.rds.ca for details in your area.
Canada has medalled at 14 of the last 15 IIHF World Junior Championships, including gold medal performances in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, silver medals in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2011, and bronze medals in 2000, 2001 and 2012.
For more information on Canada’s National Junior Team and the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, and follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_men.
Sweden 6 vs. Slovakia 0
Oscar Dansk (Erie Otters) made 18 saves backstopping Sweden to a 6-0 shutout win over Slovakia in Quarter-Final action Thursday.
The host Team Sweden was the first place team in Group B up against Slovakia who finished fourth in Group A.
Sweden, last year’s silver medalists, spread out their attack scoring two goals each period in the win.
Nick Sorensen (Quebec Remparts) and Andre Burakovsky (Erie Otters) each recorded two assists.
Following the game, Martin Reway (Gatineau Olympiques) was among the three Best Players on Slovakia as selected by the coaches.
Sweden will face Russia in the Semi-Finals on Saturday at 9:00 am Eastern.
Finland 5 vs. Czech Republic 3
Henri Ikonen (Kingston Frontenacs) scored the game-tying goal early in the third period to help Finland comeback to beat the Czech Republic 5-3 in Quarter-Final action.
Finland was the second place team in Group B up against the Czech Republic who finished third in Group A.
Dallas Stars prospect Radek Faksa (Kitchener Rangers) scored to put the Czechs ahead 3-1 in the second period before the Finns scored four unanswered.
Dominik Volek (Red Deer Rebels) contributed an assist for Czech Republic, while Marek Langhamer (Medicine Hat Tigers) made 29 saves despite the loss.
Following the game, Langhamer and captain Petr Sidlik (Victoriaville Tigres) were among the three Best Players on Czech Republic as selected by the coaches.
Finland will face Canada in the Semi-Finals on Saturday at 1:00 pm Eastern.
Russia 5 vs. United States 3
Nikita Zadorov (London Knights) scored twice on the power play in the second period including the game-winning goal to lead Russia to a 5-3 Quarter-Final win over the defending champion United States.
Russia was the third place team in Group B up against the United States who finished second in Group A.
Former Quebec Remparts forward Mikhail Grigorenko also scored for Russia.
Ryan Hartman (Plymouth Whalers) scored for the United States, with former Blainville-Boisbriand Armada forward Stefan Matteau netting a goal and an assist.
Whalers grad Connor Carrick was named Best Player for the United States.
Russia will face Sweden in the Semi-Finals on Saturday at 9:00 am Eastern.
In Game 1 of the Relegation Round, Jorgen Karterud (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) had two assists for Norway in a 3-0 win over Germany. Markus Eisenschmid (Medicine Hat Tigers) was named Best Player for Germany. Marvin Cupper (Shawinigan Cataractes) made 21 saves despite the loss. The teams will play each other again on Friday and then on Sunday.
For more information about the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship please visit worldjunior2014.com.