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Finland's Arttu Välilä netted the winner at two minutes and eleven seconds of overtime as the Finnish squad 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 Finnish captain Aron Kiviharju. "They are a hell of a team, full of exceptional players and a superbly organized team. But I mentioned we wanted that payback from last year, and I believe we kind of earned it tonight."

In the semi-finals Sunday, the Finns will take on Sweden, while the Canadians will meet Czechia. The Swedes beat the Latvian side 6-3, Canada produced a five-goal first period in a seven to one rout over Slovakia, and the Czechs overcame Switzerland by a 6-2 margin.

Thrilling Third Period and Overtime

Michigan State’s Lee Ryker tied it for the U.S. team with 1:33 left in regulation and the University of Notre Dame goalie Nick Kempf off for an extra attacker.

Lee Tuuva and Joona Saarelainen found the net in a fifty-five-second span in the third to hand their team a 2-1 lead. Tuuva tied it at two-all with seven minutes and seventeen seconds to go, then assisted on his teammate's go-ahead goal with 6:22 on the clock. Saarelainen also assisted on Tuuva’s goal.

Key Performances and Post-Game Comments

The BU defenseman 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 the next two contests.

"In my opinion we made good plays for a lot of the game," Hutson commented. "But the small details that they got, a lot of their Grade-A opportunities came from our errors."

His BU teammate C. Eiserman handed the U.S. a 2-1 edge on a power play with 9:45 remaining in the second period. He accepted a pass from his teammate and beat the Finnish goaltender with a quick shot from the right side.

Hutson tallied on a rush thirty-five seconds into the second period. Heikki Ruohonen equalized at four minutes and forty-six seconds on a quick shot from the left wing.

Goaltending Stats

• Finland's goalie stopped 28 shots.
• Kempf recorded 21 saves.

The U.S. squad fell in their last two games – falling six to three to the Swedes on Wednesday night in the group finale – after winning their first three.

"It was an honor to lead this group," said the team's coach. "Our guys played a terrific game tonight and fell just a bit short. All credit to the Finns. It's an hollow emotion at the moment, but our guys gave it all they had."

Other Playoff Action

In the late game in Minneapolis, the Canadian team routed Slovakia with the aforementioned first-period explosion.

Cole Reschny, T. Iginla, M. Misa, S. O'Reilly and B. Martin tallied in the first period, and P. Martone and C. Beaudoin scored in the second. J. Ivankovic turned aside twenty-one shots.

"Just goes to show how dominant we are," B. Martin said. "Taking a 5-0 lead, it really kills their morale."

In the opening playoff game, Anton Frondell scored twice for Team Sweden against Latvia. The defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius had a goal and two helpers to aid the Swedish side stay undefeated in their five outings.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis Tomas Galvas, Samuel Drancak, Adam Jiricek, P. Sikora, J. Klima and J. Fibigr scored for the Czechs.

Consolation Match Outcome

Germany triumphed in the relegation game, defeating the Danes eight to four. Manuel Schams had two goals to help his nation keep its place next year in the top division. Denmark was relegated to Division I-A.