Friday, January 4, 2013

LINDBLOM’S HAT TRICK LEADS SWEDEN TO GOLD MEDAL GAME

Press Release

 VICTORIAVILLE, Que. – Oskar Lindblom scored a hat trick, including the game-winner on a third period power play, as Sweden advanced to the gold medal game at the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with a 6-4 semifinal win over Quebec on Thursday night.

The Swedes are in the gold medal game (vs. Russia, Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN2) for just the third time in tournament history. They’re 0-2 in previous appearances – Mats Sundin led Sweden to the 1988 final, only to lose to Pavel Bure and the Soviet Union, and the Sedin twins helped the Scandinavians to silver in 1997, losing to Ontario.

Lindblom scored once in the first period, once in the second and once in the third, giving him a tournament-leading eight goals and 12 points in five games. Pierre Engvall, Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson and Henrik Törnqvist had the other goals for Sweden.

William Nylander Altelius had two assists in the win. The son of former NHLer Michael Nylander has racked up eight helpers thus far, tops among all players.

Alexis Pépin (Candiac, Que./P.E.I., LHJMQ), Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (Sorel, Que./Val-d’Or, LHJMQ), Olivier LeBlanc (Quebec City, Que./Saint John, LHJMQ) and Daniel Audette (Blainville, Que./Sherbrooke, LHJMQ) scored for Quebec, which was trying to advance to the gold medal game for the first time since winning the last of its four gold medals in 2006.

All four goal scorers also had assists.

With the game tied 2-2 midway through the second period, the Swedes struck for two shorthanded goals in a span of eight minutes to take a two-goal lead to the third.

Twice Quebec pulled to within a goal in the final frame, but it was not to be for the French Canadians, who will meet the United States in Friday’s bronze medal game in Drummondville (3 p.m. ET).

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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