In front of 9,265 fans at Scotiabank Centre, the Swedes executed a disciplined, defence-first style that almost put them into the final for the first time since losing 3-1 to Canada in 2018.
Coach Radim Rulik’s Czechs suffered some brain cramps in this clash, like taking two delay-of-game penalties for flipping the puck over the glass in their own end. But they came through in the crunch.
Each of these nations has just two World Junior gold medals to its credit. Czechia won back to back titles in 2000 and 2001, while Sweden triumphed decades apart in 1981 and 2012.
Czechia hasn’t won any World Junior medals since 2005’s bronze in Grand Forks, North Dakota. So a medal of any shade would be meaningful.
This was a highly anticipated goaltending duel between Lindbom and Czechia’s Tomas Suchanek, both of whom have excelled while playing every game for their countries. Final shots favoured Czechia 31-22.
The scoreless first period presaged a titanic defensive struggle. The Swedes clogged up the neutral zone and looked for the counterattack against the more dynamic, prolific Czechs.
“They are good at boxing out our players to give their goalie a clear view,” said Sapovaliv. “They’re a good team.”
Near the seven-minute mark, the best early chance went to Czechia’s Martin Rysavy, who beat Jansson wide and cut in with a close-range backhand that Lindbom denied.
The Czechs’ lone group-stage loss at these World Juniors was 3-2 to Sweden. Jansson, Sweden’s scoring leader on defence, tallied the winner at 1:35 of overtime. He maintained his hot hand here.
In the second period, Jansson drew first blood at 1:39 with a heavy one-timer from the left side, set up by Elias Pettersson. Cheers increased when a fan in the crowd held up a sign: “We Love IKEA.”
Swedish head coach Magnus Havelid used up his timeout to strategize late in a Juniorkronorna 5-on-3 that lasted 1:55, but the gambit didn’t bear fruit. Sweden’s power play has been as weak as its tournament-leading penalty kill has been effective in the Maritimes.
Eduard Sale nearly drew Czechia even about six minutes into the third period when, off a faceoff in the Swedish end, he rattled one off the cross bar from the bottom of the right faceoff circle.
Lindbom drew a huge ovation when he picked off a lightning wrister from Czech D-man David Jiricek with a glove save worthy of Grant Fuhr or Roberto Luongo.
Sweden hunkered down with some big shot-blocks as the Czechs pressed for the equalizer in the final minutes. However, Rulik pulled Suchanek for the extra attacker with less than three minutes left, and it paid off. Jiricek stepped into a huge one-timer that blew through Lindbom at 19:21 and exuberantly leaped into the Czech bench to whoop it up.
“It was difficult but it was just one goal we needed,” said Sapovaliv. “We know it’s just one shot, and we kept believing. We’re so happy we won.”
In overtime, Suchanek was a game-saver, opening the door for Kulich’s heroics. He made a fantastic blocker save on Filip Bystedt, Sweden’s leading scorer among forwards, in the opening minute. A few minutes later, the Czech netminder came up huge when Isak Rosen danced in for a solo chance and again when Leo Carlsson batted the puck out of the air on the rush.
“I think we were good in the third period,” Engstrom said. “They didn’t create many chances but they got one goal. We still had good chances in the OT but they had one chance and scored on it.”
The Czechs now have 35 goals, more than at any of their World Juniors except 1995 (43 goals in seven games). Whichever North American nation they face in the final, they’ll need all the firepower they’ve got.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
