At a Glance
- Finland defeats the United States 4-3 in overtime
- Arttu Valola scores the game-winning goal at 2:11 OT
- Finnish captain Aron Kiviharju calls it a revenge win
- Why it matters: Finland avenges last year’s loss in the final
Finland’s 4-3 overtime victory over the United States in the world junior hockey quarterfinals marked a dramatic reversal of last year’s final, with Arttu Valola scoring the decisive goal at 2:11 of overtime.
Game Highlights
The United States led 2-1 in the third period, but Finland’s Lee Tuuva and Joona Saarelainen netted two goals in a 55-second span to take a 2-1 lead. Tuuva tied the game at 2 with 7:17 remaining, then set up Saarelainen’s go-ahead goal with 6:22 left. Valola’s late goal sealed the win.
Key Player Moments
- Arttu Valola – 2:11 OT game-winner
- Lee Tuuva – 2 goals, 1 assist
- Joona Saarelainen – 2 goals, 1 assist
- Cole Hutson – 1 goal, 1 assist for the U.S.
- Cole Eiserman – 1 goal on a power play
- Nick Kempf – 21 saves
- Petteri Rimpinen – 28 shots faced
Quotes
Aron Kiviharju praised the U.S. team while expressing satisfaction with the revenge:
> “Got to give credit to the U.S. That’s a hell of a team, full of great individuals and a well-coached team. But I said we wanted that revenge from last year, and I think we kind of earned it tonight.”
Bob Motzko, University of Minnesota coach, reflected on the loss:
> “It was an honor to coach this group. They played a great game tonight and came up just short. Give Finland credit. It’s an empty feeling right now, but our guys gave it all they had.”
Brady Martin of Canada highlighted the power of their first-period dominance:
> “Just goes to show how powerful we are. Going up 5-0, it kind of kills their confidence.”
Other Quarterfinal Results
| Match | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Finland vs United States | Finland | 4-3 OT |
| Sweden vs Latvia | Sweden | 6-3 |
| Canada vs Slovakia | Canada | 7-1 |
| Czechia vs Switzerland | Czechia | 6-2 |
| Germany vs Denmark (relegation) | Germany | 8-4 |
Finland will face Sweden in the semifinals, while Canada will play Czechia. Sweden defeated Latvia 6-3, Canada outscored Slovakia 7-1, and Czechia beat Switzerland 6-2. Germany secured its spot for next year by beating Denmark 8-4 in the relegation game.
Key Takeaways
- Finland’s 4-3 OT win avenges last year’s final loss.
- Arttu Valola’s late goal was the decisive moment.
- Finland will meet Sweden in the semifinals, while Canada faces Czechia.
The game underscored Finland’s resilience and set the stage for a thrilling semifinal clash with Sweden.
