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HOCKEY

Czechs down Swedes in world hockey quarters

Sweden's hopes of returning to the finals of the ice hockey world championships were dashed in bitter fashion on Thursday by a late goal which gave the Czech Republic a dramatic 4-3 victory.

Published: 18 May 2012 07:06 CEST
Czechs down Swedes in world hockey quarters

“The Czechs were better. We were off to a flying start but then we started losing pucks in the wrong situations,” said Swedish player Henrik Zetterberg to news agency TT after the defeat.

Dallas Stars left winger Loui Eriksson put Sweden ahead at 7:10 but the Czechs replied positively for a 2-1 lead before the first break as their forwards Petr Nedved and Jiri Novotny scored one apiece.

Nashville Predators right wing Martin Erat increased the Czech lead at 30:27 on powerplay but Detroit Red Wings left winger Zetterberg and Jonathan Eriksson scored 45 seconds before and after the second break to pull the scores level.

Ottawa Senators winger Milan Michalek had the few Czech supporters in the Stockholm Globen arena on their feet with just 29 seconds remaining when he placed the winning goal straight into the net behind Swedish goalminder Viktor Fasth.

“It feels bloody harsh right now,” said Fasth to TT coming off the ice.

The defeat so early on in the competition has started speculation into whether Swedish head coach Pär Mårts will hand in his resignation.

In Saturday’s semi-finals Finland will face Russia in a replay of the last year’s semi-final, while the Czech Republic will take on former compatriots Slovakia, which dispatched Canada in a 4-3 upset win.

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HOCKEY

Sweden’s Rasmus Dahlin first overall pick in NHL draft

Rasmus Dahlin became just the second Swedish-born player to be selected first overall in the NHL draft on Friday when the Buffalo Sabres used the top pick on the rangy teenage defenceman.

Published: 23 June 2018 13:14 CEST
Sweden's Rasmus Dahlin first overall pick in NHL draft
Rasmus Dahlin is bound for Buffalo. Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images/AFP
Dahlin, who plays for Frolunda HC in the Swedish league and was widely expected to be the first pick, follows Mats Sundin, who was the top choice of the Quebec Nordiques in 1989.
 
“I just want everything to start,” Dahlin said. “I'm going to bring everything I have to that city. I'm super excited. I can't wait.”
 
Russian forward Andrei Svechnikov went second to the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens used the third pick to get Finnish centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
 
The draft had a decided Europe flavour as four of the top six players were Europeans. The first American was Brady Tkachuk who went to the Ottawa Senators at No. 4 and the Phoenix Coyotes took the first Canadian Barrett Hayton with the fifth pick. 
 
The 18-year-old Dahlin said he was happy to call Buffalo home despite the fact they haven't had a winning season in the past seven seasons and have missed the playoffs eight years in a row.
 
“It's amazing to finally put on the Buffalo Sabres' jersey,” Dahlin said. “I've been there twice. I love that city.”
 
The six-foot-three, 185-pound Dahlin was honoured as the best defenceman at the 2018 world junior championship in Buffalo, registering six assists in seven games. He also played twice for Sweden as a 17-year-old at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
 
At number six, the Detroit Red Wings chose the brash Halifax Mooseheads winger Filip Zadina who vowed to make teams that passed on him pay down the road.
 
“I'm telling my agent if they will pass on me, I will fill their net with the puck,” the Czech Zadina said. “Yeah, it's just I want to prove to them that they have done a bad decision.”
 
The lone trade of the day came before the draft when the Colorado Avalanche acquired backup goalie Philipp Grubauer and defenceman Brooks Orpik from the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals for the 47th pick. The Capitals were willing to get rid of Orpik and Grubauer so they could create salary cap space to sign free agents.