Sweden will have the chance to win gold in front of its fans at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored the winning goal on the power play and added the insurance goal for the Swedes, who defeated the Czechs 5-2 in the first of two semifinals on Thursday.
The Canucks prospect fired a one-timer that deceived Michael Hrabal to give Sweden a 3-2 lead.
Noah Ostlund then scored on a breakaway with about eight minutes remaining in the third period.
Lekkerimaki closed the books just 62 seconds later, after accepting a pass from Ostlund.
“It will be very fun,” Lekkerimaki said of the gold medal game. I am very excited. »
Defensemen Axel Sandin Pellikka, who added an assist, and Theo Lindstein also scored for Sweden. Hugo Havelid recorded the victory thanks to 23 saves.
“He’s not afraid to create things on the ice,” said Sandin Pellikka regarding Lekkerimaki. He jumps on the ice and plays his style. »
The Swedes have only won the annual under-20 competition twice. His last triumph was in 2012, after having triumphed in 1981.
” It is enormous. At home too. There’s nothing that beats that,” said defenseman Tom Willander.
Matyas Melovsky and Tomas Cibulka responded for the Czech Republic, who upset Canada 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Hrabal stopped 26 shots.
“I’m proud of the team,” said Czech head coach Patrik Augusta. The guys worked to the max. They created a team, that’s the most important thing. I don’t have a group of individual players. »
The Swedes, who have settled for silver 11 times, lost to the United States in last year’s bronze medal game in Halifax.
Melovsky opened the scoring at 6:55 of the first period. Lindstein tied the game a few minutes later after Hrabal fumbled his shot from the point.
Sandin Pellikka gave Sweden the lead at the start of the second period. His point shot surprised Hrabal on the glove side. The Czechs leveled the score less than five minutes later, following a violent one-timer from Cibulka, who scored his second goal in as many games.
In the other semifinal, the United States erased a two-goal deficit to beat Finland, 3-2.
After the successes of Oiva Keskinen and Rasmus Kumpulainen, the Americans responded with goals from Jimmy Snuggerud, Will Smith and Cutter Gauthier.
Flyers’ hope, Gauthier broke the deadlock at 16:47 in the third period.
Smith was drafted fourth overall last year by the Sharks. Snuggerud is part of the Blues organization.
Keskinen is a Blue Jackets pick and Kumulainen was drafted by the Wild.
In the relegation match, Germany defeated Norway 5-4 in overtime, earning a spot in the next tournament in Ottawa.