Ice hockey-Versatility key as US chase elusive world gold
Ice Hockey - IIHF World Championships - Quarter Finals - United States v Finland - Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden - May 22, 2025 Jeremy Swayman of the U.S. in action Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. SWEDEN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SWEDEN.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Team USA had to dig deep to beat a well-organised Finnish team in the quarter-finals of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship on Thursday but they eventually cruised to a 5-2 win that took them into the last four and gives them another shot at the gold-medal game.
With some of their best players traditionally choosing to skip the annual tournament after a long NHL season, the Americans have struggled to achieve the results their talent pool might deserve, but coach Ryan Warsofsky said he was happy with how his group kept finding ways to get the job done.
"I think we've won in a lot of different ways, you know... tonight, we kind of fell behind, we were letting it kind of spiral out of control with some shifts (but) we got it back on the rails a little bit," he told reporters.
"Our leadership group with (Conor) Garland, (Tage) Thompson, Brady Skjei, (Zach) Werenski, obviously (Clayton) Keller, really helped our young guys, and kind of got them back on the rails, so we're a confident group."
The Americans head into Saturday's semi-finals knowing that they have not won gold at the worlds since 1933, with their last silver medal coming in 1950, and seven bronze medals since is a poor return for a nation of their stature in the game.
"I think all these guys love their country and to have that logo, that crest, on their chest, you have a lot to play for. That should give you a lot of juice," Warsofsky said.
Asked if he had a preference for who his side would meet in the semis, the coach said: "No. Every team this time of year at this tournament is really good, so it's not going to really matter."
The line-up for Saturday's semi-finals will be decided later on Thursday, with the final on Sunday in Stockholm.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; editing by Clare Fallon)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Soccer-Dutch delight but coach and captain feel win over Finland could have been better
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group G - Finland v Netherlands - Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland - June 7, 2025 Netherlands' Nathan Ake and Virgil van Dijk in action with Finland's Nikolai Alho MARKKU ULANDER/Lehtikuva via REUTERS/File Photo HELSINKI (Reuters) -There was Dutch delight as the Netherlands made an efficient start to their World Cup qualifying campaign on Saturday by winning away in Finland. Both coach Ronald Koeman and captain Virgil van Dijk expressed satisfaction with the 2-0 win in Helsinki at the start of their Group G campaign, but felt the victory could have been more decisive. "I thought we started very well, quickly scored the opening goal," said Koeman of Memphis Depay's sixth minute effort. "That is what you always want, especially in these types of matches against a team that plays with a lot of people behind the ball. We did that well. "After about 30 or 35 minutes, I thought we were already a bit sloppy in possession. I also thought we no longer had real pressure on us. "We did not create many chances and that continued in the second half," added Koeman. "That may be logical, but you want to get even more out of a match like this. The result is fine, but I hope we play a better second half against Malta on Tuesday." The Dutch take on Malta at home in Groningen. Koeman had said last week that he felt his side were obliged to win the group given the quality of opposition. They also have Lithuania and Poland in their group. The team topping the standings qualify for next year's World Cup in North America while the runner-up goes into a playoff phase. "We've fallen a goal behind in many matches so it's great that we have now kept a clean sheet and took the three points," said Van Dijk. "The first hurdle is always difficult. Under these circumstances, almost two weeks after the end of the season, it is important that we have taken the three points," he added. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in London; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Daily Express
Bromell scorches to 100m gold
Published on: Sunday, June 08, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 08, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: (From left to right) Americans Courtney Lindsey, Fred Kerley and Trayvon Bromell compete in the men's 100m event of the Diamond League meeting at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. ROME: American Trayvon Bromell set the fastest time over the 100m this season as he won the Rome Diamond League in 9.84 seconds on Friday. Bromell, a two-time world outdoor bronze medallist and 2016 world indoor champion, dominated the field, with compatriot Fred Kerley coming in fifth in 10.06sec. Advertisement Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme (9.99) and Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala (10.01) rounded out the podium in the blue riband event. Kenya's Beatrice Chebet, who won Olympic golds in the 5,000 and 10,000m in Paris last year, posted the second fastest time of all time in the women's 5,000m, clocking 14:03.69 after a stunning solo breakaway at the Stadio Olimpico. It was just three seconds off Gudaf Tsegay's world record set in Eugene in 2023, the Ethiopian finishing third in the Italian capital as the field struggled with Chebet's kick four laps out from the finish. 'I was planning to run 14:15, but I felt like my body was moving and I decided to go,' said Chebet. Advertisement 'So I see that my body is in a good shape and I am capable of of the world record. So now I am going home and will prepare for it. Everything is possible. If I get someone who will push me up to 3000, it is possible.' Another Olympic champion, Quincy Hall of the USA, held his nerve to claim victory in the men's 400m in 44.22sec, winning in a photo finish from fast-finishing South African Zakithi Nene. There was a first Diamond League win since 2022 for Sandi Morris in the women's pole vault, the American clearing 4.80m for the victory. 'Today is monumental for me on a personal level,' said Morris, a three-time world silver medallist. 'I have been fighting with problems with my shoulder so I have to keep the volume of jumps lower. I really wanted to keep jumping but I also listen to my goals.' There was, however, no glory for Gianmarco Tamberi in the men's high jump in front of his adoring fans. The joint 2020 Olympic gold medallist, also the current European and world champion, bombed out at a lowly 2.16m in a competition won by South Korea's Sanghyeok Woo, with a best of 2.32m. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Lee seizes solo lead at LPGA Shoprite Classic
NEW YORK: South Korea's Lee Il-hee bounced back from a late double bogey with her fifth birdie of the day at her final hole to seize a one-shot lead going into the final round of the LPGA Shoprite Classic in New Jersey on Saturday. Lee, who shared the overnight lead with Elizabeth Szokol, teed off on 10 at the Seaview Hotel & Country Club and grabbed four birdies in her first nine holes. After her double bogey at the eighth she finished with a final birdie for an 11-under par total of 131 and a one-stroke edge over Japan's Mao Saigo and Ayaka Furue and Americans Jennifer Kupcho and Szokol. Lee, a 36-year-old whose career has been hampered by multiple injuries, had opened the 54-hole event with an impressive 63. "Today was totally different day, and I knew it's going to be complete different day so I didn't have any expectations," she said. "I was just playing golf, having fun out there. Made some birdies on the first nine – it was fun." Saigo, who won her first major title at the Chevron Championship in April, carded a 67 highlighted by an albatross at the par-five third hole, where she holed out from 214 yards out with a seven-wood. "First time," said Saigo, who couldn't see the ball go in but said she knew it had by the reaction of the crowd around the green. Furue claimed her share of second with a bogey-free 66 while Kupcho posted the low round of the day with seven birdies in her seven-under 64, capped by a birdie-birdie finish at eight and nine. Szokol also overcame a double bogey, carding four birdies in a 69 that she classed as "pretty good" in the wake of Friday's 63. "Definitely hard to beat yesterday's," Szokol said. "Still, really solid day, hit some great golf shots and made some really good putts early on to save par. Finished on a birdie so going off on a good note for tomorrow." — AFP
