Monday, January 2, 2012

HÄGG , BURAKOWSKY SCORE TWO GOALS EACH TO GET SWEDES CLOSER TO SEMIS

Press Release

WINDSOR, Ont. – Robert Hägg and André Burakowsky finished with two goals and an assist each as Sweden capped its preliminary round at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with an 8-2 win over Atlantic on Monday afternoon.

The win means the Swedes can do no worse than a spot in a tiebreaker for one of the two semifinal spots from Group A. If Ontario beats Quebec in the late game at the WFCU Centre or the game goes to overtime, the Swedes will be among the final four on Tuesday. Only a Quebec victory in regulation time brings the tiebreaker into play.

Anton Blomberg, Leon Bristedt, Wilhelm Westlund and Adam Brodecki also scored for the Swedes, who were in a 1-1 game 15 minutes into the second period before exploding for three goals in the final five minutes of the middle frame and two more in the opening two minutes of the third to open up a 6-1 advantage. Victor Öhman added three assists for Sweden, which scored four power play goals in a span of 4:25.

Kameron Kielly (Charlottetown, P.E.I./Charlottetown, NBPEIMMHL) and Matt Murphy (Fredericton, N.B./Val-d’Or, QMJHL) scored the goals for Atlantic, which needed a win to have a change at sneaking into the semifinals. Andrew Mergl (Quispamsis, N.B./Saint John, NBPEIMMHL) made 43 saves in a losing cause as the Canadian side was outshot 51-23.

While the Swedes will wait to see who, where and when they play Tuesday, Atlantic will travel to Tecumseh to meet the Czech Republic in the seventh-place game (7 p.m. ET).

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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