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HOCKEY

Swiss advance to world hockey semifinals

Switzerland headed to the world ice hockey championship semifinals after a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic on Thursday in Stockholm.

Published: 16 May 2013 19:17 CEST
Swiss advance to world hockey semifinals
Swiss goalie Martin Gerber prepares to celebrate victory with team-mates. Photo: Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images

The win marked the eighth consecutive victory for the Swiss squad who have yet to lose a game in the International Ice Hockey Federation tournament held in Stockholm and Helsinki.

Switzerland opened up a 1-0 lead in the first period when  Denis Hollenstein scored his fourth goal of the championships.

Roman Josi notched another goal on a power play in the second period to make it 2-0.

The Czechs replied with a goal in the third period but it was not enough.

“I’m very proud,” said Sean Simpson, Switzerland’s expat Canadian coach, of his team’s performance, according to a report from Blick.ch, which gave banner headline treatment to the result.

“The team had the right attitude, the right will.”

The Swiss, who have beaten such powerhouse teams as Canada and Sweden in earlier games, now face the United States on Saturday.

In the other semifinal, co-hosts Sweden and Finland will battle it out for the right to play in the final on Sunday.

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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.