(Ottawa) The Czechs will return home with a new medal from the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Posted at 7:30 p.m.
Updated at 8:21 p.m.
Joshua Clipperton
The Canadian Press
Eduard Sale scored in the 14e round of the shootout to help Czechia defeat Sweden 3-2 and win the bronze medal on Sunday.
The captain of the Czech team thwarted Swedish goalkeeper Marcus Gidlof on his fifth attempt with a backhand feint. He also extended the session in 13e round when he responded to Otto Stenberg’s goal.
“He’s the player you want on your team, not as an opponent,” Czech goalkeeper Michael Hrabal said. He’s a born scorer. He showed throughout the tournament how good he is. »
It was the longest shootout in the history of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).
Sale and Jakub Stancl scored in regulation time for the Czech Republic. Hrabal stopped 32 pucks in 65 minutes of action.
David Edstrom scored a double in the loss. Gidlof made 30 saves.
“It’s tough,” Edstrom said. The margins are thin. They scored one more goal, and it sucks because we wanted this medal. »
The Czech Republic also won the silver medal following a defeat against Canada in the final in Halifax during the 2023 edition, then the bronze last year in Sweden. This is the first time that the nation has reached three consecutive podiums since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992.
“It’s huge,” Harbal said. Great players are coming, but they still have to work hard. The future looks bright. »
The Czechs, who eliminated Canada in the quarterfinals for the second year in a row, opened the scoring on a power play at 3:47 of the first period. Stancl scored his seventh goal of the tournament with a one-timer.
Sweden, who lost at home in the final to the United States last year, responded with a power play at 12:31 through Edstrom.
Sale made it 2-1 at 9:27 of the second period, then Edstrom tied the game again by redirecting a shot at 15:40 of the period.
