Game Report 897

World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

PLAYED AT: RBC Centre
Date: Nov 6, 2014
GAME NOTES: VESALAINEN SCORES HAT TRICK, FINNS INTO U17 SEMIS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1995 JASON LA ROSE SARNIA, Ont. – Kristian Vesalainen led the way with a hat trick, and Finland advanced to the semifinals at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with a 5-1 quarter-final win over Slovakia on Thursday afternoon. It’s the first time the Finns will be among the final four at a full tournament since 1995, when they won a silver medal. Finland won bronze in 1998, the year two half-field under-17 events were held. Joona Koppanen and Tarmo Reunanen had the other goals, while Otto Somppi added two assists for the Finns, who will face the winner of Thursday night’s Canada Red-Russia quarter-final in Friday’s semifinals. Samuel Solensky was the lone goal scorer for Slovakia, which will finish its tournament in Friday’s seventh-place game in Lambton Shores, Ont. (3 p.m. ET). Vesalainen got the scoring started just past the eight-minute mark of the first period, swinging out from behind the Slovak net and jamming the puck past netminder David Hrenak, and added a second 10 minutes later, knocking in a loose puck in front for a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. Koppanen made it a three-goal game at 7:56 of the second, tapping in a pass from Juha Jääskä after Jääskä did the hard work behind the net. Solensky converted a Slovak power play at 13:43, sneaking a slap shot under the arm of Finnish goaltender Leevi Laakso for his team’s second goal of the tournament, but Vesalainen finished his hat trick just 17 seconds later, wiring a wrist shot just under the cross bar to the short side of Hrenak. Reunanen closed off the scoring three minutes into the third with the Finns holding the man advantage. Both teams finished 1-for-4 with the power play, and Finland held a wide advantage in shots on goal, 31-15.

Visiting Team: Slovakia

Home Team: Finland

SLOVAKIA LINEUP
Pos	No.	Name
G	1	Koziak, Jan
G	30	Hrenak, David
	3	Matejovic, David
	4	Rudy, Samuel
	5	Bodak, Martin
	6	Hedera, Tomas
	7	Zeleňák, Vojtech
	8	Krempasky, Martin
	9	Juriga, Matus
	10	Rajnoha, Erik
	11	Roman, Milos
	14	Bjaloncik, Peter
	15	Studenic, Marian
	16	Vitek, Dominik
	17	Bucek, Samuel
	20	Galbavy, Matej
	21	Musliu, Kroni
	22	Lacka, Jakub
	23	Hrehorcak, Patrik
	25	Solensky, Samuel
	27	Cacho, Viliam
	28	Ruzicka, Adam

SLOVAKIA PENALTIES
Per.	No.	Min	Offence	Off	PP	PS	Start	On
1st	25	2:00	Tripping minor	11:54	1		11:54	10:06
1st	5	2:00	Roughing minor	16:52	1		16:52	5:08
2nd	6	2:00	(auto) Boarding minor	1:05	1		1:05	0:55
3rd	8	2:00	(auto) Holding the Stick minor	1:24	1		1:24	0:36
3rd	7	2:00	(auto) Interference minor	11:50			11:50	10:10

FINLAND LINEUP
Pos	No.	Name
G	1	Rautiainen, Kimmo
G	30	Laakso, Leevi
	2	Almari, Niclas
	3	Felixson, Oliver
	4	Oksanen, Emil
	6	Niemeläinen, Markus
	7	Pynnönen, Jarkko
	8	Reunanen, Tarmo
	9	Kluuskeri, Jan
	10	Vesalainen, Kristian
	11	Sihvonen, Riku
	13	Jääskä, Juha
	14	Mäkinen, Otto
	15	Koppanen, Joona
	18	Kuokkanen, Janne
	19	Tuulola, Eetu
	20	Niemi, Pete
	21	Nurmi, Markus
	22	Räsänen, Aapeli
	23	Salo, Robin
	24	Somppi, Otto
	28	Vaakanainen, Urho

FINLAND PENALTIES
Per.	No.	Min	Offence	Off	PP	PS	Start	On
2nd	14	2:00	(auto) Holding minor	12:37	1		12:37	9:23
2nd	24	2:00	Roughing minor	16:56	1		16:56	5:04
3rd	4	2:00	(auto) Interference minor	6:09	1		6:09	15:51
3rd	8	2:00	(auto) Holding minor	10:43	1		10:43	11:17

SLOVAKIA Goals

SLOVAKIA PLAYERS (plus)

FINLAND PLAYERS (minus)

Per.

Time

G-As1-As2

2nd

13:43

25-5

FINLAND Goals

FINLAND PLAYERS (plus)

SLOVAKIA PLAYERS (minus)

Per.

Time

G-As1-As2

1st