Finland Stuns Canada in Zurich Semifinal
Finland edged Canada 4‑2 in a tightly contested semifinal at the International Ice Hockey Federation’s tournament in Zurich, Switzerland, setting up a gold‑medal showdown with the host nation.
Canada opened the scoring, taking a 2‑1 lead after the first period, but the Finnish side answered with a three‑goal burst in the middle frame that flipped the momentum.
A Second‑Period Surge
The Finnish surge was underpinned by 29 shots on goal, a perfect kill on both Canadian power‑play opportunities, and a composed performance from netminder Justus Annunen, who made key saves in the third period to preserve the lead.
With the victory secured, Finland will now face Switzerland in the championship game, while Canada shifts focus to a bronze‑medal match against Norway, a contest that will test the depth of a roster missing several Olympic‑caliber stars.
Key contributors for Canada included Macklin Celebrini, who leads the team with 12 points in eight games, and veteran Sidney Crosby, second on the scoring list with 10 points; both expressed confidence that the experience will fuel future success.
Finland’s standout forward Aleksander Barkov was named the game’s best player, while Canada’s Dylan Holloway earned the same honor for the losing side; the IIHF also highlighted Greaves, Barkov and other top performers in its post‑game awards.
The result marks a rare early exit for Canada, who last captured the world title in 2023 and were eliminated by Denmark in last year’s quarterfinals, underscoring the competitive nature of the tournament.