Sweden’s Junior Ice Hockey Team Suffers Devastating Defeat in 2024 Final Against USA

Otto Stenberg and Jonathan Lekkerimäki scored the Swedish goals – but it was not enough as the USA struck six times, the last in an empty cage.

The Junior crowns have not conceded so many goals in 60 minutes before in the tournament.

The junior crowns had charged to break the long gold drought and fix victory party for the first time since 2012.

Collecting silver

Instead, it was another silver. The twelfth in history after the eighth final loss in nine attempts. And third silver in a home championship.

JVM has in the past also been decided in series form as no pure finals have been played.

These teams know each other well after hot matches at the U18 level.

14 Swedish players from this team won gold in the U18 World Cup 2022 against the USA in the final, while nine participated and lost in extra time last year.

Sweden started optimistically and when the team had to play in numerical superiority it was close several times. Noah Östlund shot between the legs of himself and with his back to the goal. It would have been a classic goal if the puck had found its way in.

Steered in first

But the USA got stronger in the period and took the lead during a pending expulsion. Gabe Perreault headed in 1–0 behind Hugo Hävelid.

However, Frölunda forward Otto Stenberg gave Sweden and Scandinavium hope. Just over two minutes into the middle period, he headed in the equalizer after Mattias Hävelid first shot.

Then Stenberg was close again on a return.

But a careless Swedish substitution gave the Americans a 2–1 lead. Defender Drew Fortescue understood the situation and released Isaac Howard, who coldly put the puck between the leg pads of Hävelid.

– I think we will come out well as we want. We may not receive dividends from the start. But I still think that we are at war for two periods. But it doesn’t really work in the third, says Mattias Hävelid.

Unfortunate Hävelid

Barely five minutes later, Howard struck again behind an unfortunate Hugo Hävelid.

Parallel to the goal line, he put the puck in in front of the goal and Djurgård’s goalkeeper guided the puck in himself.

Then there were heated feelings after two potential American expulsions that the referees turned a blind eye to.

First, Felix Unger Sörum was tackled to the head by Rutger McGroarty and then Gavin Brindley swung the club at Noah Östlund’s head.

When an American was finally sent off – for tripping – Jonathan Lekkerimäki scored as he usually does – with a huge shot. His seventh goal of the tournament.

Just five seconds before the end of the period.

– It was really nice and there was a little left on the clock. It will be full throttle in the final period, we are strong there, he tells SVT.

Instead, it was the United States that gave full throttle. Back Zeev Buium shot 4-2 already after 1.19 and the uphill was once again steep.

Too steep, it would turn out.

It flowed away with two more American goals, the last in an empty net.

The gold was the USA’s sixth in the JVM.

Facts | Sweden’s gloomy final result

2024, Gothenburg: USA 2–6.

2018, Buffalo: Canada 1–3.

2014, Malmö: Finland 2–3 ed.

2013, Ufa, Russia: USA 1–3.

2012, Calgary: Russia 1–0 e expl.

2009, Ottawa: Canada 1–5.

2008, Pardubice, Czech Republic: Canada 2-3rd ed.

1996, Boston: Canada 1–4.

1978, Montreal: Soviet 2–5.

Sweden took gold in 1981, but then no pure final was played. In 1977 and 1979–1995, the tournament was decided in series form.

Source: TT

2024-01-06 04:50:50
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