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Arttu Välilä netted the winner at 2:11 of extra time as Finland pulled off a stunning four to three win over the reigning two-time champion United States on Friday night in the world junior hockey quarter-finals.

"Got to give full credit to the US," remarked Finland's leader Aron Kiviharju. "They are a fantastic squad, full of exceptional players and a well coached team. But I said we were seeking that payback from last year, and I believe we truly deserved it tonight."

In the semi-finals on Sunday, Finland will take on Sweden, while the Canadians will meet Czechia. The Swedes defeated Latvia 6-3, Team Canada produced a first-period five-goal outburst in a 7-1 rout over the Slovakian team, and Czechia topped Switzerland by a six to two margin.

Dramatic Final Frame and Overtime

Michigan State’s L. Ryker knotted the score for the United States with 1:33 remaining in regulation and the University of Notre Dame goalie N. Kempf pulled for an additional skater.

Lee Tuuva and Joona Saarelainen found the net in a fifty-five-second burst in the third period to give their team a two to one lead. Tuuva leveled the score at two-all with 7:17 left, then assisted on Saarelainen’s game-leading goal with six minutes and twenty-two seconds remaining. J. Saarelainen also assisted on Tuuva’s goal.

Key Performances and Post-Game Comments

The BU blueliner Cole Hutson had a goal and a helper for the United States after taking a shot in the back of the head against Switzerland and sitting out two games.

"In my opinion we executed well for most of the game," Hutson commented. "But the small details that they got, many of their Grade-A chances came from our mistakes."

His university colleague C. Eiserman gave the U.S. a two to one edge on a power play with 9:45 remaining in the second period. He accepted a pass from Hutson and fooled Petteri Rimpinen with a one-timer from the right circle.

Hutson scored on a rush thirty-five seconds into the second. H. Ruohonen tied it at 4:46 on a quick shot from the left side.

Between the Pipes Summary

• Rimpinen stopped 28 shots.
• Kempf made twenty-one stops.

The Americans fell in their last two games – falling six to three to Sweden on Wednesday in the group finale – after winning their first three.

"It has been an privilege to coach this group," stated the team's coach. "Our guys played a terrific game today and fell just a bit short. All credit to Finland. It's an hollow feeling at the moment, but our players gave it all they had."

Additional Playoff Action

In the late game in the host city, the Canadians routed Slovakia with the five-goal first.

C. Reschny, T. Iginla, M. Misa, Sam O’Reilly and B. Martin scored in the first period, and Porter Martone and Cole Beaudoin scored in the following period. Jack Ivankovic made 21 saves.

"This demonstrates how powerful we are," B. Martin remarked. "Going up 5-0 lead, it kind of saps their morale."

In the opening playoff game, A. Frondell netted a pair for Team Sweden against Latvia. The defenseman L. Sahlin Wallenius contributed a goal and two helpers to aid the Swedes remain undefeated in five games.

In Minneapolis T. Galvas, Samuel Drancak, Adam Jiricek, Petr Sikora, Jiri Klima and J. Fibigr provided the goals for the Czech team.

Relegation Game Outcome

Germany won the relegation game, defeating the Danes 8-4. Manuel Schams scored twice to help his nation keep its spot next year in the main event. The Danish side was relegated to the second tier.