The Czech hockey players defeated Finland 8:2 in the semifinals of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup for under-18 players in Břeclav, and after six years they will play in the final of the prestigious tournament. Against Canada, which they will challenge at the same place on Saturday from 5 p.m., they will seek their second first in history. They achieved the first in 2016. In front of 3,877 spectators in an almost sold-out auditorium, Adam Titlbach won twice in the winner’s jersey.
Coach David Čermák’s players had an excellent start to the match, already leading 2:0 in the fifth minute. Titlbach’s initial strike was quickly followed up by Adam Jecho. However, the Czech youngsters did not take advantage of other opportunities, and the Northerners were brought back into the game for promotion not long before the break thanks to Emil Hemming, who took advantage of his numerical advantage.
In the second half of the second act, however, the home team’s cannonade came, who decided between the 31st and 38th minutes. Jiří Klíma, Maxmilian Curran, Adam Benák and Oskar Lisler were among the scorers. At the beginning of the third part, Titlbach prevailed for the second time today. Hemming soon settled accounts with him in a mini-fight, but Ondřej Kos had the last word.
In the second semi-final in Trenčín, the defending champions, the Canadians, met the reigning world champions, the Americans, in an overseas match. The USA team was leading 1:0 and 2:1, but from the second period Canada dominated the action on the ice, leading 4:2 before the half of the match. After winning 7:2, he will play against the Czech Republic for the 24th gold in the history of the tournament. The Americans will compete with the Finns for bronze.
The battle for fifth place between Sweden and Switzerland was decided in favor of the Nordics after 35 seconds of overtime by Linus Eriksson with a goal to make it 3:2. In the duel for seventh place, the Germans beat the Slovaks in Trenčín 6:4, so they did not score a single point in their four appearances at the home tournament and finished last.
Hlinka Gretzky Cup hockey players under 18 in Břeclav and Trenčín:
Semifinals:
Czech Republic – Finland 8:2 (2:1, 4:0, 2:1)
Goals: 4th and 43rd Titlbach, 5th Jecho, 31st J. Klíma, 34th Curran, 37th Benák, 38th Lisler, 47th Kos – 19th and 44th Hemming.
Canada – USA 7:2 (1:2, 3:0, 3:0).
For 5th place: Sweden – Switzerland 3:2 in overtime. (0:0, 2:2, 0:0 – 1:0),
for 7th place: Slovakia – Germany 4:6 (1:3, 1:1, 2:2).
2023-08-04 20:09:17
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