Keystone
The Swiss U20 team concluded the preliminary round of the Ice Hockey Junior World Championships in St. Paul (USA) with a 3-2 win over Slovakia in third place. The quarterfinal opponent has not yet been decided.
The Swiss juniors were challenged more against Slovakia than they were by Germany the day before (4-0). Two goals within 22 seconds in the final phase of the first period put Jan Cadieux’s team on the road to victory. Loris Wey and Mike Aeschlimann scored in the power play. The Swiss resolutely took advantage of two two-minute penalties against Tobias Tomik for a high stick.
The game was no longer played with the utmost intensity because both teams knew that the World Cup would continue on January 2nd with a much more important knockout game. Switzerland led 3-0 until the 48th minute before the Slovaks shortened the lead at the end. The goal, however, only came ten seconds before the end.
Canada, Finland or the Czech Republic
With their second win within 24 hours, the Swiss secured third place in the preliminary group. They will face the runners-up in Group B in the quarterfinals. Canada, Finland and the Czech Republic were considered possible opponents before the final group games.
Telegram:
Switzerland – Slovakia 3:2 (2:0, 1:0, 0:2)
St Paul. – 3864 spectators. – SR Magnusson/Verbeek (SWE/CAN), Pye/Strömberg (CAN/SWE). – Goals: 19. (18:05) Wey (Reber, Johnson/exclusion Tomik) 1:0. 19. (18:27) Aeschlimann (Ustinkov, Muggli/exclusion Tomik) 2:0. 37. Haas (Körbler, Meier) 3:0. 48. Nemec (Chrenko, Radivojevic) 3:1. 60. (59:50) Radivojevic (Nemec, Chrenko) 3:2 (without goalkeeper). – Penalties: 2 times 2 minutes against Switzerland, 4 times 2 minutes against Slovakia.
Switzerland: Elijah Neuenschwander; Muggli, Ustinkov; Johnson, Sansonnens; Blessing, Meier; Lehmann; Wey, Jonah Neuenschwander, Reber; Antenen, Grossniklaus, Steiner; Mottard, Körbler, Aeschlimann; Waidacher, Borradori, Cattin; Haas.
Notes: Switzerland without Kirsch (backup goalkeeper), Geisser, Henry and Lachat (all surplus).
