Canada beat the USA 6-2 in the semifinals of the World Junior Hockey Championships
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) – Adam Fantilli scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, Thomas Milic made 43 saves and Canada overcame an early deficit to beat the United States 6-2 on Wednesday night to advance to the world junior hockey championship game.
In pursuit of its 20th title, Canada will face the Czech Republic on Thursday night. The Czechs, 5-2 winners over Canada in their tournament opener, rallied to beat Sweden 2-1 in overtime in the first semifinal.
“It’s unbelievable,” Milic said. “It’s something we’ve been working on for a long time now and it’s something you dream of doing as a child. So super happy. I love those pressure situations. And I think as we’ve progressed through the tournament we’ve just gotten better and better.
Milic is the only player on Canada’s roster passed over in the NHL draft.
“It’s always in the back of my mind,” the Seattle Thunderbirds goaltender said. “But it’s not really something I think about that much now. It’s just about winning.”
Joshua Roy had two goals, the second in the empty net, and two assists for Canada. Fantilli, Connor Bedard and Logan Stankoven each had a goal and an assist, and Brandt Clarke also scored.
“I think it was a great game to beat the USA,” Roy said. “That was the team we wanted to beat, and we were down 2-0. And then we came back, and the crowd was great. So just a great moment for us. We didn’t panic.”
Logan Cooley and Kenny Connors scored in the first period as the Americans raced to a 2-0 lead. Trey Augustine stopped 31 shots for the USA
“Get away from our identity,” said American coach Rand Pecknold of Quinnipiac. “Their goalie was the best player on the ice. He was excellent. That’s part of hockey.”
The Americans face Sweden in the game for third place.
“We had some really good chances throughout the game,” USA captain Luke Hughes said. “We couldn’t bury ours, and they buried theirs. We lost, and it sucks. But you know, we have a chance to win a medal tomorrow. And that is important. So we have to wrap our heads around that.”
In the first semifinal, David Jiricek equalized with 39 seconds left in regulation and Jiri Kulich scored late in overtime to send the Czechs to their first final since back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001.
Buffalo first-round pick Kulich fended off a penalty kick, cut from the right side to the opener and lifted the puck over goaltender Carl Lindbom’s right shoulder with 50 seconds left in the 10-minute overtime period.
In regulation with goalkeeper Tomas Suchanek off for an extra striker, Jiricek ripped a one-timer past Lindbom from the left point.
Suchanek made 21 saves and only allowed Ludvig Jansson’s goal in the second period. Lindbom stopped 29 shots.
Also on Wednesday, Latvia beat Austria 4-2 to sweep the best-of-three relegation series.