Frustrated Americans and broken Swedes after the night’s JVM semi-finals – The junior crowns fell heavily in the extension: “Damn empty – everyone is very sad”

Sweden’s dreams of a JVM gold died last night – and it was grim, to say the least, in the Junior crowns after the extra time. The joy was total in the Czech Republic, which is playing the first JVM final in over twenty years.

The final couple in the junior WC in ice hockey is ready. Canada and the Czech Republic square off for the gold – two national teams that have not met in a JVM final since the turn of the millennium.

The unusual thing is the Czech Republic’s final place. After seventeen consecutive Junior World Championships without a medal, the Czechs made it to the final after great drama against Sweden.

First, David Jiricek made it 1-1 with less than a minute left in regulation and with less than a minute left in overtime, Czech point guard Jiri Kulich scored the winning goal. It is the Czechs’ first JVM victory over Sweden in more than twenty years.

– Absolutely incredible, there are so many emotions. After twenty years of waiting, this is so big for the Czech Republic. I probably would have laughed if someone had said before the tournament that we are playing in the final, says striker Matyas Sapovaliv on JVM’s website.

The Czech Republic’s JVM achievements are quite pale: two gold and one bronze have been won since Czechoslovakia was dissolved in the 1990s. Now awaits the first JVM final after the double golds in 2000 and 2001.

– I want to claim that this is one of the best teams in the Czech Republic in twenty years, says striker Jakub Brabenec.

Fifth final miss in a row for Sweden

It was significantly heavier in the Swedish camp. Ludvig Jansson was about to save the Junior crowns in the goalless match, but now it will be a bronze match instead.

– They had luck on their side, it sucks. It’s mostly emptiness, but also pride in the boys, says Jansson SVT.

Sweden, who knocked out Finland in the quarter-finals, defeated the Czech Republic after extra time in the group stage. Now it was a reversal of roles when it really mattered.

This also means that Sweden’s dreams of breaking the JVM curse are alive. It has been over ten years since the last blue-yellow gold and now they miss the final for the fifth tournament in a row.

– It’s bloody empty, I don’t know what to say. We fall on the finish line. It’s dead quiet and everyone is very sad, but it’s just a matter of getting a fresh start tomorrow, says Noah Östlund according to The Express.

Chance for revenge for Canada

If the Czech Republic is an above JVM finalist, their opponent Canada is the exact opposite. They are in yet another JVM final and can win their 20th gold on the night of Friday Finnish time.

In a packed and boiling Halifax hall, the reigning champions secured their final ticket in the North American semi-final against the USA.

In one period the USA kept the home crowd on their toes, but in the second period three Canadian goals came that turned the game around. With a 4–2 lead and over 10,000 spectators behind them, Canada rallied and won the semi-final with a clear 6–2.

Canada’s great promise Connor Bedard was noted for 1+1 and is up to a somewhat incredible 9+14 after six games in the JVM.

A topic of conversation after the semi-final was two disallowed USA goals. Both times the referees deemed Canadian goalkeeper Thomas Milic to have been interfered with in the goal area.

– I am quite frustrated with the verdicts. I don’t want to say more about the work of the referees than that it is 18-19 year olds who are playing and they are being deprived of goals. It affects, of course, a lot. I won’t say more than that, says US national team captain Rand Pecknold TSN.

For Canada, the final will be a chance for revenge against the Czech Republic. On the opening day, Canada shockingly lost to the Czechs.

– They were quite cocky after that victory. They celebrated as if they had won a final. We haven’t forgotten it, says Joshua Roy TSN.