GANGNEUNG – Finland fought back against Canada to avoid an unwanted hat trick and won the bronze medal in men’s six-team ice hockey with a dramatic penalty shootout victory.
Despite a disastrous start with three goals conceded in the first seven minutes and a 3-0 lead, the Finns never lost faith and leveled the score at 3-3, taking the lead at the end of the second period. Ta.
Canada tied the game with six minutes left in the third period, sending the game to penalties, but it was Finland who celebrated with a 5-4 victory when Iris Uronen converted the decisive penalty.
Finland, who finished fourth in the last two Winter Youth Olympic Games, including losing to Canada in the bronze medal match in Lausanne 2020, had no intention of going home empty-handed again.
“I encouraged everyone in the locker room and said, ‘Let’s win the game,'” forward Luca Arco said.
“We were motivated to win and when we went into the penalty shootout we knew we could win.
“This was the best experience of the entire tournament. The crowd was excited.”
Canada, who entered the game as favorites for the championship, suffered another heartbreaking penalty shootout comeback a day after losing in the semifinals to the United States in a similar manner.
Zachary Nyman (Canada) said, “We started well, but it was a little tough having four unanswered goals.”
“Anything can happen in a shootout. It doesn’t really matter which team played better. It happened two games in a row.”
Germany defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the bronze medal match between six women’s teams, but the victory came at a price for Hanna Weichenhein (GER).
“I don’t have a voice. I think I can hear you,” she said. “I was rooting for them throughout the game.
“It’s great, but now I don’t have a voice left.”
But the sore throat alone is not enough to put a damper on Mr. Weichenhein’s celebrations.
“During the cool down, scream as much as you can along with every song,” she said. “I think it’ll probably calm down a little bit after that. And if we win the bronze medal, we’ll celebrate again.
“It has been a roller coaster of emotions, but winning the bronze medal is the greatest gift we can achieve here.
“German ice hockey is really cool. It’s perfect.”
Switzerland was heartbroken after finishing in fourth place, and many of the female students shed tears at the end of the match.
“Fourth place is a difficult position,” said Norina Szulpkowski (SUI). She said, “I’m just one step away from the podium.
“I don’t want to see my teammates look like this (tears). It’s not good.”
OIS eh/ln/mc/ic/sg