Ivan Hlinka Memorial Day 1

Finland - USA 5-1

Finland got a flying start of the game and the tournament with four goals on American goalie Stephen Dhillon. The teams scored a goal each in the middle period and after a scoreless third the game ended 5-1 in favor of the Finns. Otto Mäkinen scored twice for Finland - the first and the last goal of the game. Eetu Tuulola, Robin Salo and Otto Somppi also scored for the winning side while Timmy Gettinger scored the only goal for the Americans.

"We are very happy to win the first game. To be honest, I didn't expect so huge scoring difference between us and the USA", says Mäkinen to hlinkamemorial.com.

Sweden - Switzerland 4-3

Jacob Cederholm scored the winner for Sweden against Switzerland just 22 seconds before the end of the third period. Switzerland had taken an early lead on a goal by Nico Hischier but Alexander Nylander, Willian Fällström and Jesper Bratt turned it to a 3-1 lead for the Swedes after two periods. Dominik Volejnicek scored twice for the Swiss team in the third period to tie it but Cederholm ruined the day for Switzerland with his late winner.

Slovakia - Russia 2-5

In Bratislava the home team Slovakia lost 2-5 to the favourite Russia. Maxim Afanasev, Danil Veriayev, Ilya Avramenko, Artur Kayumov and Vyacheslav Shevchenko scored the Russian goals while Milos Roman and Marian Studenic got nice goals for Slovakia.

Czech Republic - Canada 1-3

Also the other home team lost its opener as Canada beat Czech Republic 3-1 in Breclav. Matyas Kantner gave the Czechs the lead already in the fourth minute but Dilon Dube replied quickly to tie it. Nolan Patrick took Canada to the lead a few minutes before the first intermission and Beck Malenstyn made it 3-1 in the middle of the third period.

Tomorrow's games:
14:00 USA - Russia
15:30 Sweden - Canada
17:30 Slovakia - Finland
19:10 Czech Republic - Switzerland

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