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Finland's Arttu Välilä scored the decisive goal at 2:11 of extra time as Finland engineered a remarkable 4-3 victory over the two-time defending champion American team on Friday night in the IIHF World Junior Championship last eight.

"Got to give full credit to the US," stated Finland's leader Aron Kiviharju. "They are a hell of a team, full of exceptional individuals and a well coached team. But I mentioned we were seeking that revenge from the previous final, and I think we kind of earned it tonight."

In the semi-finals on Sunday, the Finns will take on Sweden, while Canada will play Czechia. Sweden beat the Latvian side six to three, Canada produced a first-period five-goal outburst in a seven to one rout over the Slovakian team, and the Czechs overcame Switzerland by a six to two margin.

Thrilling Final Frame and Extra Session

Michigan State’s Lee Ryker knotted the score for the U.S. team with 1:33 left in regulation and the Notre Dame netminder Nick Kempf pulled for an additional skater.

L. Tuuva and Joona Saarelainen found the net in a fifty-five-second span in the third period to hand Finland a two to one lead. Tuuva tied it at two-all with seven minutes and seventeen seconds to go, then set up his teammate's game-leading goal with 6:22 remaining. J. Saarelainen also earned a helper on the first goal.

Notable Performances and Reactions

The BU blueliner Cole Hutson had a goal and an assist for the United States after being struck in the back of the head versus Switzerland and missing the next two contests.

"In my opinion we executed well for most of the game," the defenseman said. "But the little bounces that they got, a lot of their Grade-A opportunities came from our mistakes."

His university colleague C. Eiserman gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead on a man advantage with nine minutes and forty-five seconds remaining in the middle frame. He took a feed from his teammate and fooled the Finnish goaltender with a quick shot from the right circle.

Hutson scored 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.

Between the Pipes Stats

• Finland's goalie stopped twenty-eight attempts.
• The American netminder recorded twenty-one stops.

The Americans fell in their final two games – losing 6-3 to the Swedes on Wednesday in the final preliminary game – after winning their initial three matches.

"It has been an honor to lead this group," said the team's coach. "They played a great game today and came up just short. All credit to the Finns. It's an empty emotion right now, but our guys gave it all they had."

Additional Playoff Action

In the late game in the host city, the Canadians overwhelmed Slovakia with the five-goal first.

Cole Reschny, Tij Iginla, Michael Misa, Sam O’Reilly and Brady Martin scored in the first period, and Porter Martone and C. Beaudoin connected in the following period. Jack Ivankovic turned aside twenty-one shots.

"Just goes to show how dominant we can be," B. Martin remarked. "Taking a five-nothing lead, it really saps their morale."

In the opening playoff game, A. Frondell scored twice for Team Sweden against Latvia. The defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius contributed a goal and two assists to aid the Swedish side stay undefeated in five games.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis T. Galvas, Samuel Drancak, A. Jiricek, Petr Sikora, J. Klima and Jakub Fibigr provided the goals for the Czech team.

Consolation Match Result

Germany won the relegation game, beating Denmark 8-4. M. Schams had two goals to help his nation keep its spot next year in the top division. Denmark was relegated to Division I-A.