Championship game set for World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

Just three periods separate one team from a World Under-17 Hockey Challenge title.

Team Sweden will face Team Canada Black in Saturday’s championship game at the Essar Centre.

Sweden advanced to the final thanks to a 3-2 shootout win over Team Canada White in Friday’s early semifinal game.

Lukas Wernblom had the shootout winner for Sweden, beating Canadian goaltender Olivier Rodrigue in the ninth round of the shootout.

“It was a really good game by both teams,” said Team Canada White Coach Brent Kisio. “Sweden is a really structured team. We played well. We did the things we wanted to do offensively.”

Kisio noted Sweden’s shot-blocking in the game and credited both goaltenders – Rodrigue of Team Canada and Sweden’s Oscar Lindbom. Rodrigue made 31 saves while Lindbom finished the day with 29.

Swedish Coach Ulf Lundberg spoke of the energy level not being as high as it had been earlier in the tournament but credited it to playing six games in nine days.

“It’s quite understandable,” Lundberg said of the lack of energy.

Team Canada White forward Barrett Hayton called the loss a “tough pill to swallow.”

“I really thought we outplayed them,” Hayton said. “It’s tough.”

Hayton and Jackson Shepard completed the Canadian scoring. Marcus Westfalt and Samuel Fagemo scored for Sweden in regulation time.

In Friday’s other semifinal game, Jacob Inhgam made 40 saves as Team Canada Black beat Team Russia 3-2 in a shootout to earn the other title game spot.

Luka Burzan’s shootout goal was the winner for the Canadian team.

“I didn’t even know we won,” Inhgam said. “I thought we were tied 2-2. I looked over at the bench waiting for our next guy to come on the ice to shoot and the boys jumped (on the ice). I was so excited. I think I jumped three-feet off the ground. It was just a crazy thrill.”

Chase Wouters and Adam McMaster scored for Team Canada Black in regulation time.

“We’re so proud of these guys,” Team Canada Black Coach Paul Boutilier said.

Boutlier would also say he had no concerns about the team being ready for the gold medal match after the emotional high of winning on Friday night.

Andrey Svechnikov had both goals for the Russian team.

The Russians entered the shootout by changing goaltenders and putting Amir Miftakhov in and pulling starter Daniil Isaev.

Russian Assistant Coach Andrei Kapranov said the move was based on Miftakhov’s shootout ability but the team went back to Isaev after the first two Canadian shooters scored.

Puck drop for Saturday’s championship game is set for 7:30 p.m. Team Canada White and Team Russia will meet in the bronze medal game at 3:30 p.m., also at the Essar Centre.

In placement games on Friday, Team USA clinched fifth with a 3-2 win over Team Canada Red. Jacob Semik scored with 2:51 remaining in regulation time to give the Americans the victory. Jake Pivonka scored a pair of goals for Team USA. Ryan Merkley and Benoit-Olivier Groulx scored for Team Canada Red.

In Friday’s other placement game Leevi Aaltonen had the shootout winner as Team Finland beat Team Czech Republic 2-1 to finish in seventh. Lenni Killinen scored in regulation time for the Finns while Ondrej Pavel had the lone goal for the Czech Republic.