Ivan Hlinka Day 3: Semifinal schedule set

10 Aug 2011 | Derek O’Brien

Two historic hockey rivalries will determine the finalists at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. On Friday, Russia and Canada will do battle in Piešťany, while Sweden and Finland will re-familiarise themselves in Břeclav.

The final games in the group stage were played Wednesday. In Břeclav, Canada shut out Switzerland 6-0 and Sweden edged the Czech Republic 5-3. In Piešťany, Russia beat Finland 3-1 and the USA and Slovakia finished in a 5-5 tie.

Group A finishes with Sweden on top with 9 points, followed by Canada with 6, the Czech Republic with 3 and Switzerland pointless. By virtue of their win today, Russia wins Group B with 7 points, one ahead of Finland with 6. The USA finishes with 3 points and Slovakia with 1.

On Friday, each site will host one semifinal and one placement game. Both semifinal match-ups feature historic hockey rivalries. Canada and Russia, who have long battled for the sport's supremacy, will face off in Piešťany at 17:30 CET, 11:30am ET, 8:30am PT. Ninety minutes later, hockey's two Scandinavian powers, Sweden and Finland, will renew acquaintances in Břeclav.

The other four teams will finish their tournament earlier in the day. The Czech Republic will host the USA in the game for fifth place in Břeclav at 15:30 CET, 9:30am ET, 6:30am PT. The US beat the Czechs 5-3 in a pre-tournament game on Saturday. In Piešťany, Slovakia and Switzerland will try to avoid the tournament's basement starting at 14:00.

The bronze medal game and the championship game will be played on Saturday. Which site will host which game depends on the semifinal results, as the semifinal winner who finished higher in the group stage will stay put, while their opponent will have to travel. The other city will then host the bronze medal game.

Friday, August 12:
14:00 Slovakia-Switzerland (7th place, Piešťany)
15:30 Czech Republic-USA (5th place, Břeclav)
17:30 Russia-Canada (semifinal, Piešťany)
19:00 Sweden-Finland (semifinal, Břeclav)

Saturday, August 13:
15:00 Final or bronze-medal game (Piešťany)
17:00 Final or bronze-medal game (Břeclav)

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