Contrary to what one would expect in a friendly tournament, both teams came into the match quite abruptly, even badly. After 10 minutes, the referees had already pronounced 29 minutes of penalty.
For Canada’s Tobie Bisson, the game was over after just 7 minutes. The defender was sent to the shower after a cross to the head of Radek Muzik.
However, Örebro was only able to use the five-minute power play to take the lead shortly before the end. Filip Berglund scored on Rodrigo Abols’ preparatory work. In addition, the solid Canadian goalkeeper Michael Hutchinson failed to move in time.
The Finnish-Slovak refereeing duo also awarded five penalties midway through the period. There were chances on both sides. Örebro’s Gustav Bäckström is closest to the goal, with the 27-year-old hitting the post alone past Hutchinson.
Linus Öberg did better just after the second break: the 22-year-old curled all over the ice, dribbled through the Canadian passive defense and shot dry. The section had 21 seconds at this point.
The Canadians then increased the pressure, with Chris DiDomenico an asset. It was the SCB player who reduced 6:34 minutes before the 3rd siren to 1:2 with an individual performance. The Swedes then survived the furioso Canadian final with 6 v 5 outfielders relatively easily – 25 seconds before the end, unlucky former Davos player Mathias Bromé scored the decision in the empty goal.
For Team Canada, the elimination is a historic first negative: the Canadians have never lost every game in Davos since their first appearance in 1984. In 2011, they were eliminated in the pre-semi-finals, but when they even won a group game.
Canada head coach Travis Green won the Spengler Cup as a player in 2007, 15 years later the 52-year-old former Vancouver coach suffered a crushing defeat. Just like his assistant Josh Holden, who could not hide his disappointment.
Spengler Cup newcomer Örebro, meanwhile, celebrated their second win in game three and advanced to the semi-finals. There, the Swedes meet Sparta Prague, the winners of the Cattini group.
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1. Pre-semi-final – Defending champions Canada have already failed – Sport
Bisson’s poor service
Öberg’s glorious solo
DiDomenico restores hope
Historical release
Orebro versus Sparta
- At the Spengler Cup, the Canadian team lost their pre-semi-final against the Swedish representative Örebro 1:3 and were eliminated as soon as possible.
- The Hockey Canada team has never left the traditional Davos tournament without a single victory.
- Örebro meet Sparta Prague in Friday’s semi-final.