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Finland's Arttu Välilä scored the decisive goal at 2:11 of overtime as Finland engineered a remarkable 4-3 win over the reigning two-time champion American team on Friday night in the IIHF World Junior Championship quarter-finals.

"We must give full credit to the United States," stated Finnish captain Aron Kiviharju. "That's a hell of a team, loaded with exceptional players and a well coached team. But I said we were seeking that payback from the previous final, and I think we truly deserved it tonight."

In the semi-finals on Sunday, Finland will face the Swedish team, while Canada will play Czechia. The Swedes defeated the Latvian side six to three, Canada had a first-period five-goal outburst in a seven to one rout over Slovakia, and the Czechs overcame Switzerland by a six to two score.

Thrilling Final Frame and Extra Session

Michigan State’s Lee Ryker tied it for the U.S. team with one minute and thirty-three seconds remaining in the third period and the Notre Dame netminder N. Kempf off for an extra attacker.

L. Tuuva and Joona Saarelainen found the net in a fifty-five-second span in the third to give Finland a 2-1 advantage. He tied it at two-all with seven minutes and seventeen seconds to go, then assisted on his teammate's game-leading goal with six minutes and twenty-two seconds on the clock. J. Saarelainen also earned a helper on the first goal.

Notable Contributions and Post-Game Comments

The BU blueliner C. Hutson had a goal and a helper 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 made good plays for a lot of the game," Hutson said. "But the little bounces that they got, a lot of their Grade-A chances came from our errors."

His university colleague C. Eiserman gave the U.S. a two to one lead on a man advantage with 9:45 left in the middle frame. He took a feed from his teammate and beat the Finnish goaltender with a one-timer from the right side.

C. Hutson tallied on a fast break thirty-five seconds into the second. H. Ruohonen tied it at four minutes and forty-six seconds on a quick shot from the left wing.

Between the Pipes Stats

• Rimpinen stopped 28 shots.
• Kempf made 21 saves.

The U.S. squad lost their final two games – falling 6-3 to the Swedes on Wednesday in the final preliminary game – after starting with their first three.

"It was an honor to coach this team," stated the American bench boss. "Our guys played a great game today and fell just a bit short. Give Finland. It's an hollow emotion at the moment, but our guys gave it all they had."

Additional Playoff Action

In the second match in Minneapolis, the Canadian team overwhelmed Slovakia with the aforementioned first-period explosion.

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

"Just goes to show how powerful we are," B. Martin said. "Taking a 5-0 advantage, it kind of kills their confidence."

In the first quarter-final, Anton Frondell netted a pair for Sweden against Latvia. The defender Leo Sahlin Wallenius had a goal and two assists to help the Swedish side remain perfect in five games.

In Minneapolis Tomas Galvas, Samuel Drancak, A. Jiricek, Petr Sikora, J. Klima and J. Fibigr scored for the Czech team.

Consolation Game Outcome

The German team triumphed in the consolation match, defeating Denmark 8-4. Manuel Schams scored twice to help his nation retain its place next year in the main event. The Danish side was relegated to Division I-A.