Fans from all over the world are engaged in what has been an exciting IIHF World Junior Championship.
The semifinal matchups between Sweden/Russia and Canada/Finland take place on Saturday, the the former already under way, and yielding yet another 5 minute major and a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head. Is it me or has this been a seemingly rough World Junior Championship compared to past years?
It was a 1-1 game early in the first period when Sweden's Nils Nöglander came surging through the neutral zone, flipping the puck into Russia's end before getting the shoulder/elbow up high on Russia's Grigori Denisenko, who was coming in to engage the puck carrier.
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With the uptick in head shots this year, the IIHJF may be looking to make an example of someone as a way of keeping the play more clean for the remainder of this tournament and all tournaments moving forward. Unfortunately for Sweden, that someone may be Höglander.
Should the Swede's sneak past the Russians, it would be a huge blow if Nöglander is suspended for the remainder of the tournament, as he has most certainly been one of the best players on Sweden's entire roster.
It is currently 3-3 with 8 to go in the 2nd frame. We'll provide an update on any potential supplemental discipline as soon as one becomes available.
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