SWEDES SURVIVE QUEBEC COMEBACK, MOVE INTO SEMIFINALS

KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – There may be 13 years between them, but Sweden is into the semifinals for the second time in a row at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Karl Johansson scored the only goal in the shootout and Stefan Steen stopped all three shooters he faced as the Swedes locked up a final four berth with a wild 4-3 win over Quebec on Saturday afternoon at the Joe Mavrinec Community Complex.

Before this year, Sweden had not taken to the ice at the U17 tournament since 1997, when Daniel and Henrik Sedin led the Scandinavians to a silver medal. Now, they will wait for the result of Saturday night’s Ontario-West game to find out where, when and who they play in Sunday’s semis.

The game looked to be well in hand for the Swedes after 20 minutes, as they took a 3-0 lead to the intermission on goals from Mika Zibanejad, Rasmus Bengtsson and Max Görtz. Sweden was helped in the opening frame by four Quebec penalties.

But in the second it was the Swedes who paraded to the box, giving Quebec four power plays and allowing the Canadian side to tie the game thanks to Yannick Veilleux, Jonathan Huberdeau and Jean-François Leblanc.

A scoreless, and penalty-free, third period gave way to a five-minute overtime, which was also free of any goals. Johansson scored on Sweden’s first shot, while Steen turned away Huberdeau, Olivier Archambault and Raphaël Bussières.

Quebec still has a chance to make the semifinals as well, but will need a West win over Ontario in regulation time to advance.