#91/2014 IIHF WJC Blog

Biscuits and Breezers:

World Junior Championships:

Final Day

        Welcome back to another blog of Biscuits and Breezers! This will be the last blog of for the 2014 IIHF World Championships because they have come to a close, the gold, silver, and bronze medals have been awarded, and the relegation rounds have come to an end. Everyone will head back home to their previous teams or home towns to finish up the 2013-2014 season before the playoffs will start in about March or April with a great experience on record. All the teams played fantastic during the games but only one could come out on top and that was Team Finland. That's right, Suomi has brought home their first gold since 1998! Congratulations Finland, it was a phenomenal win and they definitely played all of their cards right. You can't forget about the Swedes either. They fought tooth and nail to the finish even helping push the game into overtime. I was a major fan of the Swedish roster this year and I can't wait to see who they pull up for the 2015 games in Toronto and Montreal, Canada. So with the conclusion Finland was awarded gold, Sweden claimed silver, and Russia will head home with the bronze. It was fantastic to see so many great athletes competing against former team mates and rivals and hopefully we will see even more intense action next year. Once again congratulations to the Finns and all the Finnish fans and let's see another great run next year! Also thank you to everyone for staying with me while I have been a tad sick I appreciate it greatly, you guys certainly are the best and I don't know where I would be without you! Here are the game reviews.

(Credit to Google Images-usatoday.com)

(Credit to Google Images)

(Credit to Google Images)

(Credit to Google Images-worldjunior2014.com)

Game 1: Final Relegation Game - Germany vs. Norway

   Germany decided in this game that if they weren't going to medal that at least they would go home with some sort of a determined win. They beat Norway out of the best of three games with a final 3-1 win at Malmo Isstadion. With just 14 seconds left in the first period, Frederik Tiffels got the Germans on the board first on a breakaway goal and an apple for Leon Draisaitl. At 19:20 in the second period, Dominik Kahun gave Germany a 2-0 lead over the Norwegians. Patrik Klopper rose the final German score to 3-0 when his goal at 3:43 into the third raised the level for the Norwegians that much higher. Magnus Fischer finally scored a geno with 5:35 left in the period for a 3-1 score but it just wasn't enough to lift Norway over the gritty determined plays of Team Germany. Marvin Cupper saved 34 out of 35 for Germany while Joachim Svendsen stopped 23 out of 26 shots for Norway. Congratulations Germany!

(Credit to Google Images-worldjunior2014.com)

Game 2: Bronze Medal Game - Canada vs. Russia

   Russia will go home with the bronze after beating super power house Canada 2-1 at the Malmo Arena. The Host country for the 2015 IIHF WJC will go home sitting in 4th surely seeking revenge for next year. Russia started everything off at 3:35 in the first period on a power play goal from the accidental blade of Mikhail Grigorenko that was supposed to be a pass to Pavel Buchnevich. Then minutes later, Eduard Gimatov took an apple from Andrei Mironov and put it past Fucale to lift the Russians 2-0 over the stunned Canadians at the end of the first period. The second period was scoreless and finally at 7:10 into the third, Canada was put on the board when Charles Hudon made a clean pass to Josh Morrissey who then put the biscuit in the basket for a final score of 2-1 in favor of Team Russia. Zach Fucale saved 30 out of 32 Russian shots for Team Canada while Andrei Vasilevski stopped 30 out of 31 for Team Russia. Congratulations Team Russia!

(Credit to Google Images-ca.sports.yahoo.com)

Game 3: Gold Medal Game - Sweden vs. Finland

   Round 2 of the battle of Scandinavia and the under dogs have won it all! Going into this game statistically, Sweden was supposed to throw Team Finland out of the rink but the exact opposite happened. In the OT period, Rasmus Ristolainen scored for the Finns to have the final 3-2 come out in his favor. The Finns got off to a great start by creating the scoring game just 28 seconds into the first period. Esa Lindell received a beautiful pass from Saku Maenalanen and proceeded to shoot it pass Dansk for a 1-0 score. Teravainen was credited the second assist. The Swedes tied everything up at 7:53 in the second when Lucas Wallmark was able to beat Juuse Saros to make it a 1-1 game. Finland was able to muster an answer 45 seconds later when Finnish captain Teuvo Teravainen shot the biscuit past Dansk for a 2-1 lead and an assist was given to Saku Maenalanen going into the locker rooms for the second break. With 9:07 remaining in the third period, Christian Djoos shot a beauty past Oscar's glove and tied everything up for the Swedes. Off to the overtime period. After an unrelenting period, Rasmus Ristolainen scored at 9:42 into the OT to throw the Finnish fans as well as players into a frenzy. Teravainen was credited the final assist. Juuse Saros stoppped 35 out of 37 saves for Team Finland while Oscar Dansk saved 28 out of 31 for Team Sweden. Congratulations Team Finland!

(Credit to Google Images-blackhawks.nhl.com)

Scoring Leaders:

1. Teuvo Teravainen 15 pts - Finland

2. Filip Forsberg 12 pts - Sweden

3. Saku Maenalanen 11 pts - Finland

4. Anthony Mantha 11 pts - Canada

5. Martin Reway  10 pts - Slovakia

Assist Leaders:

1. Teuvo Teravainen 13 pts - Finland

2. Filip Forsberg 8 pts - Sweden

3. David Griger 7 pts - Slovakia

4. Elias Lindholm 7 pts - Sweden

5. Martin Reway 6 pts - Slovakia

Goalkeepers:

1. Juuse Saros 1.57 GAA .943 S% - Finland

2. Andrei Vasilevski 1.83 GAA .933 S% - Russia

3. Oscar Dansk 1.79 GAA .929 S% - Sweden

4. Joachim Svendsen 3.02 GAA .915 S% - Norway

5. Marek Langhamer 2.95 GAA .906 S% - Czech Republic

Penalty Leaders:

1. Leon Draisaitl 52 PIMs - Germany

2. Patrik Marcel 29 PIMs - Czech Republic

3. Lukas Laub 25 PIMs - Germany

4. Jonathan Drouin 24 PIMs - Canada

5. Pavel Buchnevich 18 PIMs - Russia

  Thanks for reading another blog of Biscuits and Breezers! Every blog will be filled with updated hockey news, player reviews, and much more! Until next time remember, don't get your breezers in a bunch because hockey is always around the corner. Remember, it's always great day for hockey and it's a lifestyle not just a sport! (All pictures found on Google Images credit goes where credit is due.)