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Finland's Arttu Välilä scored the decisive goal at two minutes and eleven seconds of extra time as the Finnish squad engineered a remarkable 4-3 win over the two-time defending champion American team on Friday night in the world junior hockey quarter-finals.

"We must give credit to the US," stated Finnish captain A. Kiviharju. "They are a hell of a team, full of exceptional players and a superbly organized team. But I said we were seeking that revenge from the previous final, and I believe we truly deserved it this evening."

In the semi-finals Sunday, Finland will take on Sweden, while Canada will play Czechia. Sweden beat Latvia six to three, Team Canada produced a first-period five-goal outburst in a 7-1 romp over the Slovakian team, and Czechia overcame Switzerland by a 6-2 score.

Dramatic Third Period and Extra Session

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

L. Tuuva and J. Saarelainen scored in a fifty-five-second span in the third period to give their team a two to one advantage. He tied it at 2 with seven minutes and seventeen seconds left, then set up Saarelainen’s game-leading goal with 6:22 on the clock. Saarelainen also earned a helper on Tuuva’s goal.

Key Performances and Post-Game Comments

The Boston University blueliner Cole Hutson had a goal and a helper for the United States after being struck in the back of the head versus Switzerland and sitting out two games.

"In my opinion we made good plays for a lot of the game," the defenseman said. "But the little bounces that they got, many of their high-quality opportunities came from our errors."

His university colleague C. Eiserman gave the United States a 2-1 edge on a man advantage with nine minutes and forty-five seconds remaining in the second period. He took a feed from Hutson and fooled the Finnish goaltender with a one-timer from the right circle.

C. Hutson tallied on a rush 35 seconds into the second. Heikki Ruohonen tied it at four minutes and forty-six seconds on a quick shot from the left wing.

Goaltending Stats

• Rimpinen saved 28 shots.
• The American netminder recorded twenty-one stops.

The U.S. squad lost their last two games – falling six to three to the Swedes on Wednesday in the final preliminary game – after starting with their initial three matches.

"It was an privilege to coach this group," stated the team's coach. "Our guys played a great game today and came up just short. All credit to Finland. It's an empty emotion at the moment, but our players left everything on the ice."

Additional Quarter-Final Action

In the second match in Minneapolis, the Canadian team overwhelmed Slovakia with the five-goal first.

Cole Reschny, Tij Iginla, M. Misa, S. O'Reilly and B. Martin tallied in the first period, and P. Martone and Cole Beaudoin connected in the second. Jack Ivankovic turned aside 21 saves.

"Just goes to show how dominant we can be," Martin remarked. "Taking a 5-0 advantage, it kind of saps their morale."

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

In Minneapolis Tomas Galvas, S. Drancak, A. Jiricek, P. Sikora, J. Klima and J. Fibigr scored for the Czechs.

Relegation Match Outcome

Germany won the consolation match, beating Denmark 8-4. M. Schams had two goals to ensure Germany keep its place next year in the top division. The Danish side was relegated to Division I-A.