Mon Jan 05 04:10:00 UTC 2026: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

Sweden Advances to World Junior Championship Final After Thrilling Shootout Win Against Finland

Minneapolis, MN – Sweden is heading to the gold medal game of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship after a nail-biting 4-3 shootout victory over rivals Finland on Sunday. Anton Frondell, prospect of the Chicago Blackhawks, played the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the eighth round of the shootout to send the Swedes to their second championship appearance in three years.

The game itself was a back-and-forth affair, with Linus Eriksson giving Sweden an early lead, only to be answered by Atte Joki for Finland. Ivar Stenberg, an anticipated top-5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, put Sweden ahead again in the second period, but Jasper Kuhta quickly leveled the score. Eddie Genborg then scored to make it 3-2 for Sweden before Joona Saarelainen tied the game at 3-3.

Both goalies, Love Harenstam of Sweden and Petteri Rimpinen of Finland, made stellar saves throughout the game and during the shootout, but Frondell’s final shot proved to be the difference.

Sweden, seeking their first gold medal since 2012, will face the winner of Sunday’s Canada-Czechia semifinal matchup on Monday. The Canada vs. Czechia game is a rematch after the preliminary round and features a Czechia team that has medaled the last three years straight. Canada won 7-5 in the preliminary round but Czechia won the previous two matchups.

The championship and third-place games are scheduled for Monday, with games being broadcast on NHL Network in the United States and TSN in Canada.

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