Finland won the first-ever gold medal in men’s hockey history at an Olympic Games on Saturday night in Beijing, defeating members of the Russian Olympic Committee 2-1 in the final.
Yet it was the Russian athletes, defending champions, who opened the scoring in the first period. Former Quebec Remparts, in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but also Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets, in the National League, Mikhail Grigorenko, directed a shot lively towards the Finnish net and found the back of the net, from the first seconds of a numerical advantage.
The Finns responded at the next engagement. Ville Pokka then directed a seemingly innocuous shot towards the Russian goal and the puck made its way between the pads of goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov.
Fedotov also looked bad early in the third period, when a rather weak shot, but sent in heavy traffic, shook the ropes. Hannes Bjorninen will remember this duel for a long time, since in addition to being an accomplice to Pokka’s goal, he was the author of the golden goal.
Atte Ohtamaa also did well for the winners, with two assists.
For his part, Finnish keeper Harri Sateri only had to block 16 pucks in the victory.