Finnish ice hockey players won the title at the 89th World Championship in Switzerland. In the final match in Zürich, they defeated the home Swiss 1:0 after extra time in the fight for gold, Konsta Helenius decided it in the 71st minute. It was the third final in a row for Helvéts, they suffered a third loss in it, they have failed in the final five times in total. They are still waiting for their first title.
The Finns, on the other hand, won their fifth. The Swiss won their sixth silver, in addition to eight bronze. In regular time, the spectators saw several chances, but both goalkeepers maintained a high standard. It was finally decided in the 71st minute, when Konsta Helenius took the puck and beat home goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni. Germany will welcome the World Championship in 2027, it will be played in the cities of Düsseldorf and Mannheim.
SWITZERLAND – FINLAND 0:1 PP (0:0, 0:0, 0:0 – 0:1)
Goal: 71. Helenius (Lundell, Lehtonen)
Referees: Schrader (Ger.), Bjork-Nyqvist (both Swed.), Birkhoff (Can.), expulsions: 5:4, overpowering and weakening: 0:0, 10,000 spectators
Assemblies:
Switzerland: Genoni – Josi, Egli, Marti, Kukan, Berni, Moser, Jung – Biasca, Hischier, Meier – Niederreiter, Suter, Bertschy – Andrighetto, Malgin, Thürkauf – Knak, Jäger, Riat – Rochette
Finland: Annunen – Heinola, Vaakanainen, Lehtonen, Jokiharju, Määttä, Matinpalo, Saarijärvi – Granlund, Barkov, Helenius – Puistola, Lundell, Hämeenaho – Manninen, Aatu Räty, Puljujärvi – Mäenalanen, Björninen, Merelä – Kuokkanen
The match started briskly, after just a few seconds Puljujärvi got to the end. The Swiss started a bit more cautiously, Määttä and then Granlund had the next Finnish chances. The home team then had the advantage of the power play first, but Annunen did not have to deal with any dangerous situation. On the contrary, in the Finns’ power play, Lehtonen first hit the post and then Lundell got the puck into the goal. However, his hit was not recognized correctly due to the high hockey stick. The same player had a chance in Suomi’s next numerical advantage, but Genoni was alert. At the end of the 1st period, there was a skirmish in front of the Annunen goal, and the referees sent off two Finns at once.
The Swiss started the double overtime with the expected pressure. However, the Finns selflessly blocked shots and defended valiantly and finally managed to keep a clean sheet at the crucial moment of the match. Then the game was flowing again, the Finns had another chance after an individual action by Puistola. In the second period, Suomi kept the scoring advantage, but there were few chances on either side.
In the third period, the Finns were the first to threaten when Jokiharju got to the puck after a pass by Granlund, but the puck did not end up in the net. Suomi then played a power play, but the Swiss showed why they had the best weaknesses in the tournament. The northerners only had a chance later, but Matinpalo did not hit from a good position. Then Granlund threatened again, but this time he didn’t score either. The Swiss were under pressure at this stage of the game, Räty could have decided, but he missed. Only after these chances did the Swiss get to speak, Josi and Suter had chances, but the game was still goalless. And when Granlund didn’t even convert his next opportunity, the duel went to overtime.
After only 30 seconds, Puljujärvi hit the crossbar, on the opposite side, Riata’s shot hit the top post. The game of three against three brought attractive hockey, The Swiss could decide after Suter finished only to Annunen. The same thing happened on the other side, Granlund was shooting. But then came the action of Helenius and he gave the Finns the title.
