Czechs stunned Swedes in disbelief at WC U18

15 Apr 2011 | David Schlegel

The World Ice Hockey Championship U18 started on Thursday in Dresden and Crimmittschau, Germany. And just under way, it brought a first huge upset.

Swedes clashed Czech Republic two years ago 7-0 in an opener in Fargo/Moorhead, and this squad did not lose to the Czechs since U16.
In the 1st period Filip Forsberg opened the score and hit the post, the Swedes outshot the Czechs 15-6. Everything looked like always. But at the start of 3rd period Kvapil equalized the score and the Swedes got out of concept.

"They are used to winning against us. Now, when the game did not go their way, they started to draw penalties," said Czech star goalie Matej Machovsky, who plays for Brampton Batallion in the OHL.

The Czechs scored both goals on the power play. Kvapil equalized the score in the 44th minute, eight minutes later, Dmitrij Jaskin, son of a popular defenseman from the gold-era of Vsetin in the Czech extraliga, scored a goal from the post.

The Swedes heavily outshot the Czechs, Machovsky had 44 saves, including many crucial ones in the 3rd period. "The guys kept their tactics, worked hard, our goalie was fantastic," said a happy Czech coach Jiri Solc.

In another game in Dresden Finland beat Norway 5-2. The Finns started with a great pressure and score two goals. In the 2nd period Norway managed to tie the game, the Norwegian goalie Steffan Søberg played like a hero at that time. Just before the buzzer, Salomäki, who was 2+1 in this game, scored a game winning goal and then Finland controlled the game to the end. There were many Norwegian fans supporting their team in the stands.

Karol Korim is scoring the second Slovak goal
Photo: Dominika Handzusova

In Crimmittschau, the Slovaks had no chance against the Russians. And what is more, they lost forward Dominik Fujerik with a broken collar-bone. Russia scored three times in the 1st period, twice in power-play, and outplayed Slovakia by far. "We have to forget this game, learn from our mistakes and played a different game tomorrow," said forward Filip Vasko.

The United States scored an opening goal very fast, when Ryan Haggerty rebounded Carlson`s shot. In the 2nd period the Swiss tied the game after a mistake from goalie Gibson. He deflected an easy shot in front, and Dario Simion rebounded it high. US team then drew many penalties which forced them away from the physical game. In the 46th minute Reid Boucher scored a power-play goal and US team kept their deserved lead into the end. "It was a very difficult game for us. We needed a good start and we happy to achieve it," said the US coach Ron Rolston.

USA players are celebrating the second USA goal
Photo: Dominika Handzusova

Group A:

Russia -

Slovakia 8:2 (3:0, 2:1, 3:1)
Goals 4. and 52. Kutcherov, 14. and 59. M. Grigorenko, 7. Tkachev,
29. Schalunov, 30. Slepychev, 49. Jakupov - 39. Vasko, 55. Korim.