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HOCKEY

Czechs down Swedes in ice hockey opener

Sweden’s ice hockey team began the four-nation Karjala Cup on Wednesday with a loss to the Czech Republic, the same team that knocked the Swedes out of the world championships in May.

Czechs down Swedes in ice hockey opener

“It’s a damn shame,” said captain Pär Mårts to the TT news agency after the match.

The Swedes were defeated 3-1 by the Czech team, scoring their only goal in the 19th minute of the final period when Linköping’s Carl Söderberg managed to get one past Czech goalkeeper Alexander Salak.

“It’s the goal difference of course that made us lose. Salak is good, but you can get goals against him. Above all, we had a lot of opportunities in the first period and should have taken the lead,” Söderberg said.

The game remained tied at zero for the first two periods, but the Czechs returnd to the ice in strong form for the final term.

Just 37 seconds in, Petr Nedved scored, followed by one from Michal Vondrka. A third and final goal by Jiri Tlusty made it 3-0 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game.

Sweden’s next game is against Russia on Friday.

In May, the Czechs handed the Swedes a loss at the Globe Arena in Stockholm to knock them out of the world championships.

The Karjala Cup is an annual competition held in Finland and founded in 1996. Sweden has only finished first once, in 1997, but has taken the silver medal five times.

TT/The Local/og

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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.

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.