Team Sweden sat for its group photo on Monday, Jan. 5, on the Grand Casino Arena ice, having just held off the Czech Republic 4-2 in the gold medal game of the world’s top under-20 men’s hockey players.
At the last moment, someone in authority suggested to the players that they move a few feet to the left to improve the background.
Rather than stand up, the players in unison scooted over, perfectly synchronized like a conga line, ready to smile for their close-up and continue their revelry.
It was a fitting scene for the Swedes, who played a tight, synchronized defensive web for the first 57 minutes only to see the Czechs rally in the final three minutes with two extra-attacker goals to turn what was looking to be a shutout into a white-knuckle finish in front of an announced crowd of 9,753. Finally, Ivar Stenberg scored an empty-net goal with eight seconds left to secure the gold medal, Sweden’s third overall and first since 2012.
“It was so nice, a 4-2 goal. It was amazing,” Stenberg said. “… It was really nervous at the end. I was so happy I could get that puck up the ice."
The frenetic final three minutes came with the Czechs trailing and coach Patrik Augusta pulling goalie Michal Orsulak for an extra attacker. First, Adam Jiricek scored with 2:24 left to make it 3-1. Then, Matej Kubiesa made it 3-2 with 24 seconds remaining as the Czechs pressured heavily. The miracle wasn’t to be, though.
“Even though we didn’t have the gold medal today, we still made the country proud,” Czech forward Vaclav Nestrasil said, “and we still showed that we’re in here, and we’re going to battle for medals every single year.”
The Czechs, who upset Canada 6-4 in the semifinals, have won four consecutive medals — silver in 2023 and bronze the past two years — but couldn’t add a gold, which they last won in 2001.
