Finland secures bronze in Euro Hockey Tour

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The Finnish national ice hockey team pulled off a successful dress rehearsal for the upcoming World Championships by securing a 3-2 win against the Czech Republic in the bronze-medal game of the Euro Hockey Tour in Stockholm.
      The beginning of the game was anything but promising for the Finnish "Lions" (the pet name for the team derived from the coat of arms of Finland displaying a golden crowned lion brandishing a sword) as in the opening period the Czech team managed to skate to a 2-0 lead with goals by Ivo Prorok and Jaroslav Balastik.
     
The Finns, however, came in strong in the second period and scored three times. The first goal came when team captain Ville Peltonen succeeded in slotting a penalty shot behind the Czech goalkeeper Adam Svoboda's back.
      Jukka Hentunen's 2-2 equaliser came next, when he directed Toni Söderholm's shot from the blue line into the Czech net. Finland's 3-2 victory was sealed by Jani Rita, one of the choice players of the team.
     
The Euro Hockey Tour, the unofficial European Championship series in ice hockey, has been played ten times. Finland has pocketed the gold medals on six occasions, including five straight wins between 1999/2000 and 2003/2004. A number of tournaments - in each of the four competing countries - culminates in a medals play-off.
      This year's bronze was a repeat from last year. The third place boosted the Finnish Ice Hockey Association's coffers by EUR 15,000.
     
Russia successfully defended its victory title from last year in Monday night's final against the hosts, Sweden.
      Russia secured a 2-1 win with goals by Jevgeni Malkin and Danis Zaripov. Sweden's 18-year-old super talent Nicklas Bäckström scored the hosts' only goal.
      Russia received a EUR 75,000 compensation for their efforts. Sweden was awarded EUR 30,000.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Sports Round-Up: Finland wins European title in ice hockey (19.4.2004)

Links:
  Euro Hockey Tour (Wikipedia)

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