Sweden‘s World Junior Title Dreams Dashed by Controversial Penalty Call
Vancouver Canucks prospect Tom Willander won’t be bringing home a gold medal from the 2025 World Junior Championship, thanks to a heartbreaking overtime loss to Finland in the semifinals. What made the loss even more bitter was that Willander was forced to watch helplessly from the penalty box as Finland scored the game-winning goal on a power play. The game was a fiercely contested battle between the two Nordic rivals, but a controversial penalty call in overtime overshadowed the competition.”It was one of the worst penalty calls you’ll ever see at any level,” lamented one commentator, “let alone in overtime of a medal-round game in an international tournament. The game shouldn’t have ended in such a controversial fashion, as it was shaping up to be a classic.” After a scoreless first period, both teams traded goals in the second. Sweden’s Otto Stenberg opened the scoring with a gorgeous snipe on a 2-on-1, but Finland quickly answered with a goal from Emil Hemming, just moments after their power play had concluded. Finland ultimately took the led in the second period with a power play goal, marking the first time Sweden trailed in the entire tournament. Though Willander was on the ice for that goal, he wasn’t at fault; he simply couldn’t get back to disrupt Jesse Kiiskanen as he tapped in a deflected shot. Though Willander was on the ice for two Finnish goals, both were hardly his fault. He played a remarkable 29:17 in the game, demonstrating his defensive prowess and puck-moving abilities. The puck rarely entered Sweden’s defensive zone while he was on the ice,as Willander excelled at shutting down plays along the boards,eliminating scoring chances,and quickly transitioning the puck into the offensive zone. Sweden dominated the third period, outshooting Finland 20-3. Willander himself generated three shots on goal during this period.Despite their dominance, they only managed to tie the game thanks to a wrist shot from Wilhelm Hallquisth that found its way past the Finnish goaltender. The game went to overtime, with Sweden controlling the puck for the majority of the time, including a 4-on-3 power play opportunity. While Willander had quarterbacked Sweden’s power play all tournament,Axel sandin-Pellikka was the lone defenseman deployed during this crucial power play. Some might argue that Sweden’s inability to capitalize on their power plays ultimately cost them the game. Though, the controversial penalty call against Willander in overtime makes a strong counter-argument. Willander was penalized for holding after simply shoving his man off the puck in a battle for possession. “Inexplicably, this was called holding,” one commentator exclaimed. Finland capitalized on the questionable call. Benjamin Rautiainen caught Swedish goaltender Melker Thelin off guard with a low-angle shot that snuck under his pad. The questionable penalty call wasn’t an isolated incident. “This particular call only shines a spotlight on what has been happening all along,” stated one analyst, referring to the inconsistent officiating throughout the tournament. “Bad penalty calls and brutal missed calls have been one of the stories throughout the tournament.It’s frustrating for fans, but it’s worse for the players — 18 and 19-year-olds, many of whom may never get a chance to represent their country again, who have to deal with inexplicable decisions by the referees, some of which might crush their dreams.” ## Finland Advances to IIHF Worlds Gold Medal Game Team Finland secured its spot in the gold medal game at the IIHF World Championship following a decisive victory. They will now face the winner of the other semifinal matchup between the USA and Czechia. The bronze medal game will feature Sweden, who will play against the loser of the USA-Czechia semifinal.## Archyde Post-Game Interview: Tom Willander
**Archyde Host:** Welcome back to Archyde Sports, where we’re still reeling from a heartbreaker of a semifinal game in the 2025 World Juniors. Joining me now is Vancouver Canucks prospect Tom Willander, who was unluckily sidelined for Finland’s overtime winner due to a controversial penalty call. Tom,tough way to end such a great tournament run. How are you feeling right now?
**Tom Willander:** It’s definitely a tough pill to swallow, that’s for sure. We all wanted to bring home the gold for Sweden, and to be so close – in overtime, no less – only to have it taken away like that… it’s incredibly frustrating.
**Archyde Host:** The entire hockey world seems to be talking about that penalty call. Can you take us thru what happened from your perspective?
**Tom Willander:** Honestly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I felt like I was playing the puck cleanly, and then suddenly I was sent off. It was a huge momentum shift.To see Finland score the winning goal on our penalty kill… it’s just a devastating feeling.
**Archyde Host:** There were many commentators calling it one of the worst calls they’ve ever seen, particularly given the stakes of the game. What was going through your mind when the referee made the call?
**Tom Willander:** To be honest, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it. I always try to play by the rules and respect the refs, but in that moment, I just felt like it was a terrible mistake.
**Archyde Host:** Before the unfortunate ending, it was truly a great game. Sweden and Finland always battle it out fiercely, and this matchup was no different. What was it like facing off against your rivals with a potential World Juniors final berth on the line?
**Tom Willander:** It was intense, to say the least. Both teams knew what was at stake and came out flying. It’s always a special feeling when you get to represent your country against such strong competition. Even though we didn’t get the result we wanted, I’m proud of the effort we put in as a team.
**Archyde Host:** Thank you for your time, Tom. We know this isn’t the ending you or Team Sweden envisioned, but your performance throughout the tournament was truly remarkable. We wish you all the best for the rest of the season.
**tom willander:** Thank you. I appreciate the support.
## Interview: Tom Willander Reflects on Heartbreaking World Juniors Loss
**Host:** Tom, thanks for joining us today.I know this is a tough time after your team’s loss to finland in the World Juniors semifinals.
**Willander:** Thanks for having me. It’s definitely a difficult pill to swallow.
**Host:** You played incredibly well throughout the tournament, especially in the game against Finland, logging almost 30 minutes of ice time and showcasing your defensive prowess and puck-moving abilities. Despite being on the ice for two Finnish goals,neither was really your fault. How do you process a game where you play so well, yet the team still falls short?
**Willander:**
It’s tough. We played our hearts out, but ultimately, it came down to a few unfortunate bounces and a, let’s say, questionable penalty call in overtime. Honestly, I try not to dwell on those things too much.
We fought hard as a team throughout the tournament. I’m proud of the effort we put in, even if the outcome wasn’t what we hoped for.
**host:** Speaking of the overtime penalty call, it seemed to be a major turning point in the game. Can you walk us through what happened from your perspective?
**Willander:** I was battling for the puck along the boards. Ther was a lot of physicality, and I simply tried to move the Finnish player off the puck. The next thing I know, I’m in the penalty box. It was a tough call to accept, especially in such a critical moment.
**Host:** Some critics have argued that Sweden’s inability to capitalize on their power play opportunities ultimately cost them the game. What’s your take on that?
**Willander:** We definitely had our chances on the power play, but Finland’s penalty kill was strong. They made it tough for us to generate quality scoring chances.
That said, the way the game ended overshadows everything else.It’s hard to focus on anything else when you feel like a controversial call decided the outcome.
**Host:** This loss must be especially heartbreaking for you and your teammates as it actives your world junior careers.
**willander:** Absolutely. Manny of us have dreamt of playing for our country on this stage since we were kids. It’s always tough to say goodbye, especially when you know you could have gone further.We’ll move on from this, learn from it, and come back stronger.
**Host:** What are your takeaways from this experience?
**Willander:** It’s been an amazing journey. We’ve grown as a team, learned a lot about ourselves, and made memories that will last a lifetime.
We might not have won gold, but the experience has been invaluable. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have represented Sweden alongside my teammates.
**Host:** Thank you for your time, Tom. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
**Willander:** Thanks for having me.
Let me know if you’d like me to adjust the interview in any way.
