Having defeated Switzerland in QF Russian U18 team qualified for semifinals where they took on Sweden placed 1st in Group A.

Not surprisingly starting line-up remained unchanged compared to previous games. Moreover, Andrei Vasilevski who frustrated Swiss attack with a handful of great saves was in goal again.

Vladislav Kartaiev opened scoring for Russia with a power play goal. In five minutes, it was now Sweden who scored a tieing goal on power play making it 1-1 at 13th   minute of the game. The score stayed on up to the 3rd period.

All through the second period both teams played equally well fighting for the lingering final but the young Swedes’ stubborn effort paid off eventually as they scored 2 goals in 80 seconds later in the third. One minute technical time-out taken by the Russian team failed to reverse the game. However, young Russians went all out skating hard trying to beat the clock. They never lost heart. It was a little sad watching tears roll from their eyes during Sweden’s anthem being played.

At a post-game press conference Mikhail Vasiliev, general manager of the Russian team commenting on the game had this to say:
- I congratulate Sweden. As far as Russian team is concerned, I have none of the players to reproach for anything. They played courageously and did everything they could. Apparently that was not enough for beating this excellent Swedish team, the team that, apart from having individually skillful players on the roster also displayed a good teamwork and cohesive hockey. I think the score could have been bigger had it not been for the great goaltending by our teen puckstopper. He proved his talent, proved he had good future. He did everything to hold us in this game.

- Will your team be able to rise, pull themselves together and play to the merit in the 3rd place game?

- I thanked the boys for the all-out effort they displayed. They played courageously never loosing heart. I am sure this team can play good hockey in future. As regards the upcoming match against Finland, I can assure you there will be no lack of motivation keeping in mind our loss to Suomi team in group phase. We made some mistakes in that game and, I hope, we’ll avoid repeating those. I am not saying the team now plays a different style of hockey but it’s a different team now, different from what they were at the beginning.

So, next game, the “losers final” against Finland will be played Friday 23 April at 15.00  local time.

Sweden - Russia 3:1 (1:1, 0:0, 2:0)
Goals: 0:1 Kartayev (Kuznetsov) 8:07 PP1; 1:1 Rensfeldt (Berglind, Larsson J.) 12:58 PP1; 2:1 Larsson A. (Larsson J., Rensfeldt) 48:32 PP1; 3:1 Granlund (Vestin) 49:52
Goalies: Gustafsson - Vasilevski

Russian Ice Hockey Federation
Press Service