Russia 4, Sweden 3 (OT): Marat Khusnutdinov (Minnesota Wild) scored a power-play goal with six seconds remaining in overtime, and Russia ended Sweden’s 54-game preliminary-round winning streak in a Group B game at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship on Wednesday.
Russia got a power play when Sweden forward Arvid Costmar (Vancouver Canucks) was called for holding with 25 seconds left in overtime. Russia gained possession, and Rodion Amirov (Toronto Maple Leafs) carried the puck to the net. Sweden goalie Jesper Wallstedt (2021 NHL Draft eligible) made the save, but Khusnutdinov knocked the rebound under his pads for the winning goal.
It’s the first time Sweden has lost a preliminary-round game since Dec. 31, 2006, when it lost to the United States.
Amirov had a goal and two assists, Khusnutdinov had a goal and an assist, and Egor Afansasyev (Nashville Predators) and Kirill Kirsanov (2021 draft eligible) scored for Russia (2-1-0-1, eight points). Iaroslav Askarov (Predators) made 33 saves.
Alexander Holtz (New Jersey Devils) had a goal and an assist for Sweden (2-0-1-0, seven points), and Costmar and Noel Gunler (Carolina Hurricanes) scored. Wallstedt made 31 saves.
Gunler scored with 1:00 left in the third period to tie the game 3-3. With Wallstedt pulled for an extra attacker, Holtz’s shot from the point went in off Gunler’s shin pad.
Russia took a 3-2 lead at 9:46 of the third on Kirsanov’s goal from the left face-off circle.
Afanasyev gave Russia a 1-0 lead at 7:28 of the first period when he scored from the slot off a pass by Mikhail Abramov (Maple Leafs).
Costmar tied it 1-1 at 14:33 when he scored on a backhand in front.
Amirov put Russia ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal with 46 seconds left in the first off a setup by Vasiliy Podkolzin (Canucks).
Holtz tied it 2-2 at 15:59 of the second period. He missed an open chance from the slot but got to his rebound below the goal line. He threw the puck in front, and it bounced off Askarov and into the net.
Russia next plays in the quarterfinals Saturday. Sweden plays the United States on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).
Germany 5, Switzerland 4:Tim Stuetzle (Ottawa Senators) and John-Jason Peterka (Buffalo Sabres) each scored five points, and Germany clinched third place in Group A with its first win of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship on Wednesday.
Stuetzle, the No. 3 pick of the 2020 NHL Draft, scored two goals and had three assists. Peterka scored a hat trick and had two assists. Florian Bugl (2021 NHL Draft eligible) made 31 saves for Germany (1-1-0-2, five points), which will play in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Since the current tournament format was adopted in 1996, it’s the first time Germany will play in a playoff round.
“It’s very important, maybe even a historical moment for us,” Germany coach Tobias Abstreiter said. “We reached the quarterfinals now. … With all the conditions, the obstacles we had to [face], the team made a big impact and always believed in themselves. It’s unbelievable what they achieved and every player can be proud.”
Germany played with 12 forwards and seven defensemen for the first time after being limited to nine forwards and five defensemen during its first three games because of coronavirus issues.
“Everybody knew our situation, we were down to 14 guys,” Stuetzle said. “I’m so proud of the team. It’s just special how everybody is working together. I think we totally deserve it. And I’m so excited and can’t wait to play the quarterfinals.”
Switzerland (0-0-0-4, zero points) scored four times in the third period. It will finish last in Group A.
Ronny Daehler (2021 draft eligible) had a goal and an assist, and Noah Delemont (2021 draft eligible), Noah Meier (2021 draft eligible) and Simon Knak (2021 draft eligible) scored for Switzerland. Thibault Fatton (2021 draft eligible) made 20 saves.
“Last 20 minutes was probably the best 20 minutes from our team,” Switzerland coach Marco Bayer said. “We started again not good in the first, I was really loud in the first [intermission] to wake them a little bit up and then I think we played well, had some great chances.”
Peterka scored on the rebound of a Stuetzle shot at 4:38 of the first period to give Germany a 1-0 lead, and Stuetzle made it 2-0 at 9:08 when he scored after taking a pass at the Switzerland blue line and muscling round defenseman Cedric Fiedler 2021 draft eligible). Peterka scored a power-play goal to make it 3-0 with 2:44 remaining in the first.
Stuetzle scored his second goal for a 4-0 lead at 13:19 of the second period.
Delemont scored Switzerland’s second goal of the tournament at 9:59 of the third period to make it 4-1, and Daehler made it 4-2 at 10:55.
Peterka completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal at 17:39 of the third period that made it 5-2, but Germany forward Justin Volek was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for cross-checking with 2:01 remaining.
With Fatton pulled for an extra attacker and a 6-on-4 advantage, Meier made it 5-3 with 1:46 remaining, and Knak scored with 24 seconds left to make it 5-4.
Bugl made his biggest save with 17 seconds left against Raymond Fust (2021 draft eligible) from the crease.
Finland 6, Slovakia 0: Anton Lundell (Florida Panthers) scored a goal and had two assists to help Finland to its third straight win in Group A.
Samuel Helenius (2021 draft eligible) scored two goals, and Kasper Simontaival (Los Angeles Kings) and Topi Niemela (Toronto Maple Leafs) each had a goal and an assist. Kari Piiroinen (2021 draft eligible) made 12 saves.
Finland (3-0-0-0, nine points) and Canada (3-0-0-0, nine points) are tied for first place in Group A. They will play for the top seed in the group for the quarterfinals Thursday (6 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).
“We had a good first period, but I think we played even better in the second and third,” said Lundell, who is tied with Niemela for the Finland lead with six points (three goals, three assists).
Samuel Hlavaj (2021 draft eligible) made 44 saves for Slovakia (1-0-1-2, four points).
Lundell, Finland’s captain, scored the game’s first goal at 8:57 of the first period when he tapped in a cross-ice pass from Simontaival, giving him a goal in each of his team’s three games. Lundell then set up Niemela’s goal during a delayed penalty to make it 2-0 at 6:09 of the second.
Simontaival was credited with the goal that gave Finland a 3-0 lead at 8:35 of the second. He carried the puck to the net, Hlavaj poked it away from him, but it bounced in off the stick of Slovakia defenseman Oliver Turan (2021 draft eligible).
Santeri Hatakka (San Jose Sharks) made it 4-0 when at 6:10 of the third when he scored from the goal line, putting a shot between Hlavaj’s head and the post. Then Helenius, who received a B rating from NHL Central Scouting in its preliminary players to watch list, made it 5-0 at 7:27 when he scored on the rebound of a shot by Benjamin Korhonen (2021 draft eligible), and made it 6-0 at 13:49.
“We had a good first period, but I think we played even better in the second and third,” Lundell said.
Slovakia is assured of playing in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
“In that second period, there was lots of pressure on us, they were all over us … we were losing lots of battles,” Slovakia coach Robert Petrovicky said. “We have to go back to what it was in the first few games and the first few days, see what was working for us, especially those first few games.”
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.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
—
Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
