Wolverines, Spartans help US rout Slovakia 10-2 in world junior hockey group finale
Finland's Kasper Halttunen scores his side's third goal during the IIHF World Junior Championship group A ice hockey match between Sweden and Finland at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Credit: AP/Adam Ihse
GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Michigan forward Rutger McGroarty had a hat trick, Michigan State's Trey Augustine made 38 saves and the United States beat Slovakia 10-2 on Sunday in the world junior hockey championship to complete Group B play undefeated.
Michigan's Gavin Brindley and Michigan State's Isaac Howard each scored twice and Denver's Zeev Buium and Boston College teammates Ryan Leonard and Cutter Gauthier added goals.
“I thought we played extremely well overall,” U.S. coach David Carle said. “We’re continuing to build and now we’re on to the next phase with the quarterfinals.”
The Americans will face Latvia on Tuesday in the quarterfinals. Latvia was fourth in Group A.
Marian Mosko and Filip Mesar scored for Slovakia. It will face Finland in the quarterfinals.
In the other group B finale, the Czech Republic beat Switzerland 4-2. In Group A, Finland beat Sweden 5-4 in a shootout and Canada topped Germany 6-3. Sweden — which shut out its first three group opponents — was first in the group, followed by Canada and Finland.
In the quarterfinals, Sweden will face Switzerland, and Canada will play Czechia.
Finland's Tommi Männistö scores 0-1 during the IIHF World Junior Championship group A ice hockey match between Sweden and Finland at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Credit: AP/Adam Ihse
Jani Nyman tied it for Finland late in regulation and scored the deciding goal in the shootout.
“I don’t know what happened, but we weren’t ready at the start,” Swedish forward Noah Ostlund said. “We don’t make to make excuses. We have to be better next time."
Boston University star Macklin Celebrini scored twice for Canada.
“One of those games where you just got to keep going,” said the 17-year-old Celebrini, expected to be the top pick in the NHL draft. “We just had to push through ... it’s never going to be perfect.”
Canada's Macklin Celebrini (17) scores on Germany goaltender Matthias Bittner (1) during first period hockey action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Credit: AP/Christinne Muschi
Jiri Kulich scored the deciding goals for the Czechia.
