2008 IIHF World U18 Championship

[Galactus]

Group A:

Canada
Germany
Slovakia
Russia
Denmark

Group B:

Sweden
Belarus
Switzerland
USA
Finland

 

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Canada - Germany 9 - 2

 

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Sweden - Belarus 6 - 2
Slovakia - Russia 4 - 6
Switzerland - USA 2 - 7

1 CAN 1 1 0 0 0 3 7 9 : 2
2 RUS 1 1 0 0 0 3 2 6 : 4
3 SVK 1 0 0 0 1 0 -2 4 : 6
4 GER 1 0 0 0 1 0 -7 2 : 9
5 DEN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 : 0

1 USA 1 1 0 0 0 3 5 7 : 2
2 SWE 1 1 0 0 0 3 4 6 : 2
3 BLR 1 0 0 0 1 0 -4 2 : 6
4 SUI 1 0 0 0 1 0 -5 2 : 7
5 FIN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 : 0

 

[Galactus]

Slovakia - Denmark 5 - 2
Belarus - USA 2 - 5

1 CAN 1 1 0 0 0 3 7 9 : 2
2 RUS 1 1 0 0 0 3 2 6 : 4
3 SVK 2 1 0 0 1 3 1 9 : 8
4 DEN 1 0 0 0 1 0 -3 2 : 5
5 GER 1 0 0 0 1 0 -7 2 : 9

1 USA 2 2 0 0 0 6 8 12 : 4
2 SWE 1 1 0 0 0 3 4 6 : 2
3 SUI 1 0 0 0 1 0 -5 2 : 7
4 BLR 2 0 0 0 2 0 -7 4 : 11
5 FIN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 : 0

 

[Themanofbat]

Nice to see the Swedes beat Belarus....


...for a change. t: t: t:

 

[Galactus]

Nice to see the Swedes beat Belarus....


...for a change. t: t: t:

Yeah, more shocking than anything Marvel could ever dream up to publish in Spider-Man, isn't it?

 

[Galactus]

Germany - Russia 2 - 6
Switzerland - Finland 3 - 5

1 RUS 2 2 0 0 0 6 6 12 : 6
2 CAN 1 1 0 0 0 3 7 9 : 2
3 SVK 2 1 0 0 1 3 1 9 : 8
4 DEN 1 0 0 0 1 0 -3 2 : 5
5 GER 2 0 0 0 2 0 -11 4 : 15

1 USA 2 2 0 0 0 6 8 12 : 4
2 SWE 1 1 0 0 0 3 4 6 : 2
3 FIN 1 1 0 0 0 3 2 5 : 3
4 SUI 2 0 0 0 2 0 -7 5 : 12
5 BLR 2 0 0 0 2 0 -7 4 : 11

 

[Galactus]

Denmark - Canada 1 - 4

1 CAN 2 2 0 0 0 6 10 13 : 3
2 RUS 2 2 0 0 0 6 6 12 : 6
3 SVK 2 1 0 0 1 3 1 9 : 8
4 DEN 2 0 0 0 2 0 -6 3 : 9
5 GER 2 0 0 0 2 0 -11 4 : 15

 

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Finland - Sweden 3 - 5

1 USA 2 2 0 0 0 6 8 12 : 4
2 SWE 2 2 0 0 0 6 6 11 : 5
3 FIN 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 8 : 8
4 SUI 2 0 0 0 2 0 -7 5 : 12
5 BLR 2 0 0 0 2 0 -7 4 : 11

 

[Galactus]

Germany - Slovakia 5 - 4
Belarus - Switzerland 2 - 4

1 CAN 2 2 0 0 0 6 10 13 : 3
2 RUS 2 2 0 0 0 6 6 12 : 6
3 SVK 3 1 0 1 1 4 0 13 : 13
4 GER 3 0 1 0 2 2 -10 9 : 19
5 DEN 2 0 0 0 2 0 -6 3 : 9

1 USA 2 2 0 0 0 6 8 12 : 4
2 SWE 2 2 0 0 0 6 6 11 : 5
3 FIN 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 8 : 8
4 SUI 3 1 0 0 2 3 -5 9 : 14
5 BLR 3 0 0 0 3 0 -9 6 : 15

 

[Galactus]

Russia - Canada 4 - 2

If someone thought that the Russia – Canada rivalry isn’t what it used to be, definitely changed his mind after watching this U18 clash of titans in Kazan. Russia defeated Canada 4-2 in front of 10,000 wild fans at the Tatneft Arena that had all the elements of a classic matchup between those hockey teams.

Evgeni Grachev broke a 2-2 deadlock 7:43 into the third period to give the home team a lead they never relinquished. Pavel Chernov added the insurance goal with 4:25 remaining. Russia is the defending U18 World Champion.

With the win, Russia clinched first place in group A, assuring them a bye to Monday’s semifinal. Russia leads the group with a perfect 3W-0L record for nine points and they play Denmark in their last preliminary game on Friday. Canada is 2W-1L and has Slovakia left to play on the same day.

There were 45 penalty minutes called during a rough opening, among them a game misconduct to Russia’s Nikita Filatov for butt-ending. Things calmed down a bit in the middle stanza and Dmitri Kugryshev could give the Russians and 1-0 lead at 3:21. Ryan Ellis used a two-man advantage for the equalizer midway through the game and two minutes later Canada scored again. This time through Matthew Duchesne who got the puck past goalie Alexander Pechurskiy.

Canada’s lead stood for a little more than five minutes. Andrei Lektionov made things even with 50 seconds left of period with a power-play effort. A crucial goal that gave Russia lots of momentum. When the teams returned for the last period, Russia was clearly the hotter squad. They outshot Canada 14-7 during the last 20 minutes. Lektionov leads all tournament scorers with three goals and as many assists.

USA - Sweden 4 - 5

Andre Petersson scored a dramatic goal with 16 seconds left in regulation to give Sweden a 5-4 win over the United Sates and keep his team with a perfect 3W-0L record in group B. It was Petersson’s third goal of the championship.

Team USA had the lead (4-3) with 10 minutes left when defenceman Daniel Bozic equalized. Bozic later caused a penalty shot, but USA’s Danny Kristo couldn’t get the puck past goalie Jakob Markstrom with that excellent opportunity.

Sweden assured themselves first place in group B and thus a bye to the semifinal, while the Americans will have to play a quarter-final, most probably against either Slovakia or Germany, on Sunday.

USA enjoyed a 3-1 lead midway through the game after unanswered goals from Jordan Schroeder, Colin Moore and Jeremy Morin. But Sweden got back with two quick goals before the last intermission, through Mattias Tedenby and defenceman Erik Karlsson. It was Tedenby’s second goal of the game as he also had Sweden’s first marker after nine minutes. Karlsson also added two assists, while Tedenby was 2+1 for the evening.

Sweden outshot USA 29-25.

1 RUS 3 3 0 0 0 9 8 16 : 8
2 CAN 3 2 0 0 1 6 8 15 : 7
3 SVK 3 1 0 1 1 4 0 13 : 13
4 GER 3 0 1 0 2 2 -10 9 : 19
5 DEN 2 0 0 0 2 0 -6 3 : 9

1 SWE 3 3 0 0 0 9 7 16 : 9
2 USA 3 2 0 0 1 6 7 16 : 9
3 FIN 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 8 : 8
4 SUI 3 1 0 0 2 3 -5 9 : 14
5 BLR 3 0 0 0 3 0 -9 6 : 15

 

[Galactus]

Finland - Belarus 4 - 3

1 SWE 3 3 0 0 0 9 7 16 : 9
2 USA 3 2 0 0 1 6 7 16 : 9
3 FIN 3 2 0 0 1 6 1 12 : 11
4 SUI 3 1 0 0 2 3 -5 9 : 14
5 BLR 4 0 0 0 4 0 -10 9 : 19

 

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Denmark - Germany 0 - 4

1 RUS 3 3 0 0 0 9 8 16 : 8
2 CAN 3 2 0 0 1 6 8 15 : 7
3 GER 4 1 1 0 2 5 -6 13 : 19
4 SVK 3 1 0 1 1 4 0 13 : 13
5 DEN 3 0 0 0 3 0 -10 3 : 13

 

[Galactus]

Canada - Slovakia 6 - 0
Sweden - Switzerland 7 - 0
Russia - Denmark 10 - 1
USA - Finland 4 - 3

1 RUS 4 4 0 0 0 12 17 26 : 9
2 CAN 4 3 0 0 1 9 14 21 : 7
3 GER 4 1 1 0 2 5 -6 13 : 19
4 SVK 4 1 0 1 2 4 -6 13 : 19
5 DEN 4 0 0 0 4 0 -19 4 : 23

1 SWE 4 4 0 0 0 12 14 23 : 9
2 USA 4 3 0 0 1 9 8 20 : 12
3 FIN 4 2 0 0 2 6 0 15 : 15
4 SUI 4 1 0 0 3 3 -12 9 : 21
5 BLR 4 0 0 0 4 0 -10 9 : 19

 

[Shifty]

How big is the Under 18 in Europe 'cause it gets very little attention in Canada? Looking forward to the Senior Men's since it will finally be in a decent time zone, "Atlantic", 2 hours ahead.

 

[Galactus]

How big is the Under 18 in Europe 'cause it gets very little attention in Canada? Looking forward to the Senior Men's since it will finally be in a decent time zone, "Atlantic", 2 hours ahead.

Well, in Sweden it gets practically no attention at all. I have a feeling that the only thing that could make newspapers here write at least something about it is if we win the gold medal .Perhaps it's bigger in Russia, for example. I don't know.

 

[Galactus]

Canada - Finland 2 - 1

Finland outshot Canada 36-20 and 26-12 over the last two periods, but all they could produce offensively over 60 minutes was Jani Lajunen’s shorthanded goal six minutes before the end. Canadian goaltender Jake Allen was excellent during his 35-save performance.

Defenseman Tyler Cuma scored at 15.03 to give Canada the lead and Cory Hodgson got the game-winner midway through the game, a power-play goal which gave the Canadians the much needed two-goal cushion. Hodgson also assisted on the first goal, while Ryan Ellis had assists on both.

It was Cuma’s first goal of the championship. Hodgson is tied with Matthew Duchesne in leading all Canadian players with seven points.

The Finns ended the game playing six-on-four. Canada’s Travis Hamonic got a minor penalty with 59 seconds left and Finland pulled goalie Rasmus Rinne for a sixth attacker, but they kept missing the net on the chances they created.

Despite the win, Canada failed to impress and Sweden will go into Monday’s semifinal as the favourite to reach the final. Canadian teams – especially in games against Sweden – relish that underdog role.

 

[Galactus]

USA - Germany 4 - 1

Tomorrow’s semi-final will be a rematch of last year’s gold medal game after the United States beat Germany, 4-1, to move onto the final four, where they will meet host Russia.



While it can’t be said that today’s win was a cakewalk for the Americans, it seemed as if they had things well in control against the Germans. Robbie Czarnik scored less than five minutes into the game to give the U.S. the 1-0 lead. Despite having three straight power play chances in the first period, the U.S. had to settle for the slim lead at the end of one.



Germany took advantage of early second-period penalty trouble and netted a five-on-three goal to tie the game at one. Unfortunately for the Germans, the strike only seemed to wake the sleeping giant as the U.S. put in two goals by the midway mark of the period to climb ahead 3-1. Kyle Palmieri put the finishing touches on the win with the lone goal of the third period, bringing the final to 4-1.



Last year, Russia edged the U.S., 6-5, in the gold medal game. It is the seventh straight year that the Americans have played in the U18 semi-final game. The nation is going for a record fifth-straight U18 medal. They have earned two silver and two gold medals at the World U18 Championship in the last four years.

 

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Sweden – Canada 2-3

A pair of power-play goals from Taylor Hall lifted Canada into the gold medal game of this year’s U18 World Championship. Canada will face the winner of tonight's Russia-USA game on Wednesday.



It is only the third time in Canada’s history at U18s that they will skate for gold and the first time since 2005, when they took silver.



Canada ever held a lead until Hall scored his second power play goal 6:52 into the third period. The capped an unlikely turnaround, which saw Canada out-played in the first period, and inching its way back into contention in the remaining 40 minutes.



The first-period scoring happened in a 27-second span as the teams exchanged the quick goals. Mattias Tedenby gave Sweden the 1-0 lead 5:51 into the game, only to have erased on the next shift by Matthew Duchene. Despite the deadlocked score, Sweden clearly had the upper hand in the first period, out-shooting Canada more than three-to-one.



Sweden’s persistence paid off in the opening minutes of the second period as they took the 2-1 lead 1:08 into the period when Jakob Silfverberg scored. But once again, Canada was there to even things up as Taylor Hall scored the power-play goal at the 8:06 mark of the period. Sweden had been living dangerously in the period, with three penalties in the first half, including one that led to a five-on-three.



The teams were even in the third period, until Hall struck with the eventual game-winner. Both teams played disciplined hockey, giving up minimal power-play chances until a minor scrum in the waning seconds put both teams down a man.



For Sweden, it is the second straight year that the nation earned the quarterfinal bye only to lose in the semi-final. Last year, the Swedes won the bronze medal, 8-3 against Canada.

 

[Galactus]

Russia – USA 3-1

Russia will skate for its second consecutive gold medal at the U18 World Championship after hanging on for a 3-1 win against the United States in the semi-final game. Russia will take on Canada on Wednesday for gold, while the U.S. will face Sweden for bronze.



It will be the first-ever meeting between Russia and Canada in any medal game at the U18 World Championship. Russia will go for a record fourth gold medal at the event, while Canada is looking for its second-ever gold.



The meeting was a rematch of last year’s gold medal game and had all the elements of a medal game as both teams played a very competitive yet controlled game.



The only U.S. penalty of the first period cost the team dearly, as Russia capitalized on its only extra-man chance, with a Viacheslav Voinov goal 15:34 into the game. It took more than 20 minutes of end-to-end action for the next goal to be scored when Russia doubled its lead with 2:36 left in the second period, leaving the Americans with a hefty 2-0 deficit to overcome in low-scoring affair.



The clock was the American’s worst enemy in the third period as they tried to generate any offense, but had problems stopping the momentum that the Russians had steadily built in the first 40 minutes. Ryan Bourque finally got the U.S. on the scoreboard with 6:49 left in the game, leading to a dramatic conclusion that included the Americans pulling the goaltender for the extra skater. But Russia held off the late attack and put in the empty netter for the 3-1 win and the gold medal game berth.



Wednesday will be the second meeting of this year’s championship between Russia and Canada. Russia won the first meeting, 4-2. Russia is also looking to become the first host nation to ever win a U18 gold medal. The U.S. can also make history, with a bronze medal win they would become the first country in U18 history to win five consecutive medals at the annual event.

 

[Shifty]

Well, in Sweden it gets practically no attention at all. I have a feeling that the only thing that could make newspapers here write at least something about it is if we win the gold medal .Perhaps it's bigger in Russia, for example. I don't know.

TSN airs the the final games of the tournament, but its on at 11am and has gotten very little promotion.
They've made the U20 huge in Canada, second only to the NHL playoffs but still close. The Women's U20, Women's Senior Championship still get more promotion than the U18 but not much more. With the rise in popularity of the U20 tourney, and the lockout a few years back the Canadian junior leagues the WHL, OHL and QMJHL have gotten more attention. The Memorial Cup (the junior league champions and city host play in a tournament) will get good coverage in the media.

 

[Galactus]

Sweden – USA 3-6

KAZAN, Russia - The U.S. won a record fifth-consecutive U18 medal after topping Sweden in the bronze medal game, 6-3. While the bronze was a notch below the two silver and two gold medals the Americans had earned in the last four seasons, it was nevertheless a positive end to the championship as the nation now owns bragging rights to a new U18 record.



Late-period goals proved to be the key to the U.S. victory as three of the American’s six goals came in the last minute of the stanzas.



After Sweden took the 1-0 lead 14:23 into the game, the U.S. exploded with two even-strength goals in an astounding 16-second span to climb ahead 2-1. Ryan Bourque scored with 50 seconds left in the period, while Robbie Czarnik followed up on the face-off play.



Czarnik struck again 5:12 into the second period as the Americans owned the first half of the middle stanza. Jeremy Morin scored just over two minutes later to give the U.S. a commanding 4-1 lead. But just as every coin has two sides, so did this period as the tide turned to Sweden’s favor in the second half. Henrik Bjorklund and Martin Lundberg each added a goal to cut the American lead down to 4-3. But another late period goal by the Americans, this one with 40 seconds left from Danny Kristo, restored the two-goal lead.



Morin put in the insurance goal with 4:23 left in the game to give the U.S. the 6-3 win. Today’s victory avenged a 5-4 preliminary round loss that ultimately gave Sweden the automatic berth to the semi-final game.



Sweden missed its chance to earn a second straight bronze medal. The country has four medals in U18 history, two bronze medals (2005, 2007) and one silver medal that came in the inaugural year, 1999. The Americans have six total medals in U18 history, three gold (2002, 2005, 2006) two silvers (2004, 2007) and this year’s bronze. Russia tops all medal winners with seven medals, the total including this year’s silver or gold.

 

[Shifty]

Another gold for Canada. 8-0 win!

 

[Galactus]

Damn, all these Canadian gold medals in recent years feels like Soviet Union all over again. I wish someone else could win something soon. Even Belarus.

 

[Themanofbat]

Another gold for Canada. 8-0 win!

I honestly didn't see THAT score coming... I thought it would be as tight as their first match...

Yay Canada!!!