photo: Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF
Filip Ekberg scored four goals, including two of Sweden’s four power-play goals this afternoon at Comerica Center in Frisco in a convincing 10-3 win over Switzerland. The game was the first for both teams at the 2025 U18 IIHF Men's World Champiosnhip.
It was Sweden’s 15th win over the Swiss in 16 U18 games all time.
Ekberg added an assist for a five-point night, while defender Sascha Boumedienne had a goal and three assists. The Swedes had nine power plays produced by their speed and a lack of Swiss discipline.
"I don't think I've ever scored four goals in a game," Ekberg said. "The puck just landed on my stick the right way today. I probably won't score four next game. I like to score, but I prefer being a playmaker. I love to pass the puck more than shoot, but of course it's nice when I can score four."
The first two Swiss goals came on power plays as well. Early in the second period, Florian Schenk banged in a rebound from the blue ice, and early in the third he walked out of the corner and snapped a nice shot from the slot. Schenk had turned heads early in the game when he came within a whisker of scoring a lacrosse goal.
"We were on the forecheck, and I got the puck," Schenk explained of his near miss. "There was some open space behind the net, and I just went for it. It almost went in. I had it on my stick, tried to put it up, and then it went off my blade. It was close. Sometimes in practise when we have free ice I'll go behind the net and try, but not that much."
A tentative game got its first jolt midway through the opening period when Sweden scored two goals just nine seconds apart. Ekberg got the party started at 11:21 with the extra skater, taking a perfect pass in front from captain Milton Gastrin and snapping a shot past Matia Birchler.
Then, off the ensuing faceoff at centre, Eric Nilson converted a similar feed from Eddie Genborg to make it 2-0. Schenk made it a 2-1 game at 4:01, and moments later the Swiss almost tied it. Jonah Neuenschwander’s point-blank shot was stopped nicely by Love Harenstam, who was a member of last year’s bronze medal team for the Swedes.
Ekberg goit his second at 10:33 of the middle period, converting a low shot from in close. Less than two minutes later, Boumedienne increased the lead when his long shot from the point fooled Birchler.
Gastrin made it a 5-1 game on another power play, turning and firing a quick shot. Swiss coach Fabio Schumacher challenged the goal on a possible offside, but after video review linesmen confirmed it was a good hockey goal.
Jakob Ihs Wozniak added another five-on-four goal at 17:08 to make it 6-1 after 40 minutes.
The Swiss started the third with a lengthy two-skater advantage, and Schenk took advantage of the open ice to convert from the slot. But just 80 seconds later Sweden made it a 7-2 game when Gastin got his second of the game. His wraparound banked in off the skate of Thierry Andrey and in.
Ekberg got his hat trick at 7:41 off the rush as the Swedes kept pressing and pushing the Swiss deep into their own end. Clemens Troxler got one back for the Swiss, picking off an errant pass in front of the Sweden goal and whipping a shot over Harenstam's glove to make it 8-3.
Just 61 seconds later, though, Ivar Stenberg added to Sweden's total with a shot under Birchler's glove, and with 2:56 remaining Ekberg got his fourth off a turnover.
"We have a lot of skill on our team, and I think every line can score," Ekberg added. "In every position we have skilled guys who can do a lot with the puck. We're going for gold. That's what everyone on our team wants and that's what we expect from ourselves."
"We know they're a good team, and we can't take so many penalties," Schenk noted. "They got their power play rolling. The next game we have to keep the penalties down. They're really speedy, so we have to use our sticks better and not take stupid penalties. But we're like a family. Everybody supports each other. We had a really long preparation for the tournament, and now we're here and we want to show our best face."
It was Sweden’s 15th win over the Swiss in 16 U18 games all time.
Ekberg added an assist for a five-point night, while defender Sascha Boumedienne had a goal and three assists. The Swedes had nine power plays produced by their speed and a lack of Swiss discipline.
"I don't think I've ever scored four goals in a game," Ekberg said. "The puck just landed on my stick the right way today. I probably won't score four next game. I like to score, but I prefer being a playmaker. I love to pass the puck more than shoot, but of course it's nice when I can score four."
The first two Swiss goals came on power plays as well. Early in the second period, Florian Schenk banged in a rebound from the blue ice, and early in the third he walked out of the corner and snapped a nice shot from the slot. Schenk had turned heads early in the game when he came within a whisker of scoring a lacrosse goal.
"We were on the forecheck, and I got the puck," Schenk explained of his near miss. "There was some open space behind the net, and I just went for it. It almost went in. I had it on my stick, tried to put it up, and then it went off my blade. It was close. Sometimes in practise when we have free ice I'll go behind the net and try, but not that much."
A tentative game got its first jolt midway through the opening period when Sweden scored two goals just nine seconds apart. Ekberg got the party started at 11:21 with the extra skater, taking a perfect pass in front from captain Milton Gastrin and snapping a shot past Matia Birchler.
Then, off the ensuing faceoff at centre, Eric Nilson converted a similar feed from Eddie Genborg to make it 2-0. Schenk made it a 2-1 game at 4:01, and moments later the Swiss almost tied it. Jonah Neuenschwander’s point-blank shot was stopped nicely by Love Harenstam, who was a member of last year’s bronze medal team for the Swedes.
Ekberg goit his second at 10:33 of the middle period, converting a low shot from in close. Less than two minutes later, Boumedienne increased the lead when his long shot from the point fooled Birchler.
Gastrin made it a 5-1 game on another power play, turning and firing a quick shot. Swiss coach Fabio Schumacher challenged the goal on a possible offside, but after video review linesmen confirmed it was a good hockey goal.
Jakob Ihs Wozniak added another five-on-four goal at 17:08 to make it 6-1 after 40 minutes.
The Swiss started the third with a lengthy two-skater advantage, and Schenk took advantage of the open ice to convert from the slot. But just 80 seconds later Sweden made it a 7-2 game when Gastin got his second of the game. His wraparound banked in off the skate of Thierry Andrey and in.
Ekberg got his hat trick at 7:41 off the rush as the Swedes kept pressing and pushing the Swiss deep into their own end. Clemens Troxler got one back for the Swiss, picking off an errant pass in front of the Sweden goal and whipping a shot over Harenstam's glove to make it 8-3.
Just 61 seconds later, though, Ivar Stenberg added to Sweden's total with a shot under Birchler's glove, and with 2:56 remaining Ekberg got his fourth off a turnover.
"We have a lot of skill on our team, and I think every line can score," Ekberg added. "In every position we have skilled guys who can do a lot with the puck. We're going for gold. That's what everyone on our team wants and that's what we expect from ourselves."
"We know they're a good team, and we can't take so many penalties," Schenk noted. "They got their power play rolling. The next game we have to keep the penalties down. They're really speedy, so we have to use our sticks better and not take stupid penalties. But we're like a family. Everybody supports each other. We had a really long preparation for the tournament, and now we're here and we want to show our best face."
Sweden vs Switzerland - 2025 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship
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