A lighter Day 3 schedule featured a powerhouse Swedish team taking on a tough out in Switzerland, while Finland took on Latvia in the late afternoon game.
SWEDEN v SWITZERLAND
Early, Switzerland gave Sweden some issues with their forecheck pressure and even got one dangerous look that rang off the post. But Sweden would strike first, as Leo Sahlin Wallenius made an excellent entry, then set up Eric Nilsson driving the net hard. The Swiss would go on to kill off two penalties with a very aggressive kill, before Beni Waidacher snuck a shot past Love Harenstam. While Leon Muggli and Daniil Ustinkov got the assists, the play was started Nathan Borradori, who forced a turnover along the wall, then came screaming down towards the net and getting an excellent look. The rebound eventually worked its way to Waidacher’s goal. The second period was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams getting power plays and both goalies standing tall when called upon. But before the period could end, Lars Steiner would fire a beautiful shot that was so well placed, play continued, thinking it went off the crossbar. The third period, however, the Swedes would find their groove. The youngster Viggo Bjorck would tie the game, with Alfons Freij and Anton Lundell grabbing the helpers less than a minute in. A few minutes later, they would take the lead off a goal from Lucas Pettersson. The Swiss pulled their goalie, and shortly after, Sweden would capitalize. Pettersson would snag his second of the game, with Ivar Stenberg getting the assist.
MVPs
Sweden: Anton Frondell, Lucas Pettersson, Linus Eriksson
Switzerland: Elijah Neuenschwander, Lars Steiner, Leon Muggli
FINLAND V LATVIA
Latvia came out much flatter today against Finland when Emil Hemming scored his first goal on the first shot of the day. Overall, the Finns controlled the Latvians very well from that point, generating excellent chance after chance 5v5 but not breaking through on the power play. They would tally two more goals on Mikus Vecvanags on goals from Jasper Kuhta and Max Westergard. Kuhta’s goal was one to forget for the Montreal drafted net-minder as he knocked the puck into his own net with the heel of his goal stick. The Finns would start the second period by finally breaking through on their third power play of the day on Emil Hemming’s second goal of the day. That offensive domination continued throughout the entire rest of the second, including a Joona Saarelainen goal that put the Finns up by five. The Finnish offensize zone cycle was absolutely deadly as they continued to skate literal circles around the Latvians in their own end, with a 15-1 shot advantage in the second alone. The dominance continued into the third as the Finns just continued to skate around every Latvian not named Alberts Smits. Roope Vesterainen, Heikki Ruohonen, and Lasse Boelius put up three more even strength goals early on as they just kept the foot fully on the pedal until the very end.
MVP’s
Finland: Emil Hemming, Niklas Nykyri, the entire defense legitimately.
Latvia: Alberts Smits, Bruno Osmanis, Roberts Naudins
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
EMIL HEMMING (FIN) 2G
The Dallas Stars’ 2024 first rounder made his mark today for the Finns, giving them momentum on his very first shot. He found space under the legs of the Latvian netminder and picked him in style. Hemming’s impact on the game continued from there on out as he created chance after chance with his stick and his skating. His danger level jumped to deadly when on the power play getting several high-velocity shots off before finally finding space in the five hole once again on a high-powered clapper. The Finn has been under-utilizing his shot for the OHL’s Barrie Colts, tallying only 8 in the first half but he made the most of it today. Hemming’s offensive game has rounded out very well and he’ll continue to show it every time he gets the opportunity to this tournament. The real test will see how dangerous his shot can be against the bigger teams in this group, Canada and Czechia.
LINUS ERIKSSON (SWE)
Despite not recording any points, the Florida Panthers’ 2024 second round draft choice was one of the most noticeable players on the ice for the Swedes in what was initially a frustrating game. He was driving hard on forechecks, winning battles along the boards, and doing all of the little things so very well. Him and Milton Gastrin worked together in tight checking situations to extend offensive possessions and be a pain to the sides of Swiss defenders all game long. While things like that won’t show up on the score sheet, there was no doubt Eriksson made his presence felt when he was out on the ice.
DRAFT ELIGIBLES
ALBERTS SMITS (LAT) 0 points
The only bright side in the 8-0 drubbing the Latvians was the 18-year-old left defenseman, Alberts Smits. In a game where almost every skater on the Latvian roster was tired from the gauntlet of Canada from the day prior, Smits was unphased, going about his regular business defending the rush and being the only player to contribute to the counterattack. Smits’ frame combined with his speed and energy is a deadly force on defence, quelling the Finnish attack every second he was on the ice, finishing the day as one of the only Latvians registering a zero for his plus/minus, through two periods, and finishing the day with a -2 with over 22 minutes played. With three minutes left to go in the game, he was deep in the offensive zone, forechecking hard, trying desperately to create something, anything for Latvia to save some pride during this beating. That effort did not go unnoticed by anyone still left in the arena that late and certainly won’t go unnoticed when it’s draft day.
JUHO PIIPARINEN (FIN) 1A
On a day where Finland did very, very little wrong, Piiparinen was still a big stand-out on the day. Outside of this tournament, he is praised for his play in all three zones, but being more known as a conservative, defensively responsible kid. But against a weaker Latvian team, Piiparinen was moving the puck incredibly well through the neutral zone and the offensive zones. His confidence on the puck in the offensive end was something he put on full display against Latvia and made him an easy draft-eligible standout.
Interview with Juho Piiparinen
McKeens: How has your transition to Liiga helped grow your game and what have you learned playing with the older guys there in Finland?
JP: The compete level is up, really helps to develop my game every day. They’re bigger, faster guys, so I think it’s good that I’m there because it gives me a good challenge.
McKeens: On your game, when you’re looking to move the puck up ice and transition to offense, what is it that goes through your head? What is it that you are looking for out there?
JP: I’m just checking for where the forwards are looking to press me and where our own guys are going, where’s my D partner, the other forwards? Do I have space to skate in or do I just give an easy pass?
McKeens: When facing the rush and the opposition is skating down your side, what is it you look for and how do you prevent an entry?
JP: I’m just counting their men, where they are going. Am I in the right position? Where are my own guys, where is my D partner? Can I pinch or not? Those kinds of things.
McKeens: Back in the defensive zone, what is your focus to prevent scoring chances against?
JP: I’m just trying to stay close to my guy, box him out, or if he’s got the puck in the corner, I’d try to win the puck back and battle hard.
McKeens: You and Suvanto are both draft-eligible guys. What’s it like having him on the ice out there with you?
JP: Yeah, it’s helping. We are roommates, he’s a good friend of mine. He’s playing Tappara also. It’s great having a guy that’s the same age as me. It’s giving me, kind of, a great feeling to have him be there. Gives me confidence.
McKeens: This tournament is typically dominated by older players here, but for you as a young player, what can you learn from the older guys on the team here?
JP: Of course, you have to learn everything. They give you advice to defend, be yourself and the biggest tip from what I have gotten, they’re saying to just is enjoy it, play your style.
McKeens: Last question, it’s great to have a group that’s really close with each other, great friends. Can you take me through some of the guys behind the scenes who are funny and fun to be around? Good trash talkers or funny stories in the room?
JP: That’s a tough question. I think Suvanto is a pretty good trash talker on the ice. I think Kiviharju is good at pumping up the guys as the captain. Some guys, Leo Tuuva and Niklas Nykyri, they have fun stories in the locker room, and lots of them.