Finland captured the bronze medal at the World Ice Hockey Championships Saturday by beating its Scandinavian rival and reigning Olympic champion Sweden 4-0. It marked the third consecutive medal for Finland at the Worlds to go with a silver last year and a bronze in 2006. “The biggest thing is the Finns play as a team. They aren't always the most talented team but they play a team system,” said Finnish coach Doug Shedden. The game was a rematch of the 2006 Turin Olympic final which Sweden won 4-3. Finland lost 4-0 to Russia and Sweden lost 5-4 to Canada in Friday's semifinals, setting the stage for Sunday's gold medal game between Russia and Canada. Niklas Backstrom made 36 saves in goal for Finland, who were outshot 36-13. The Swedes swarmed the Finnish goal in the second period, outshooting Finland 11-2 in the middle period. Antti Pihlstrom scored his team-leading fourth and fifth goals and Janne Niskala scored once for Finland, which last played in a bronze medal game against Sweden in 2002. In that one, Finland built a 3-0 lead but the Swedes rallied to win 5-3. Ironically, Stefan Liv was the goalie for Sweden in that game replacing starter Tommy Salo. Liv also got the call here Saturday, replacing Swedish No. 1 Henrik Lundqvist, who struggled in the semifinal loss to Russia Friday and did not dress against Finland. Team of the Century Canada's Wayne Gretzky headlined ice hockey's Team of the Century announced by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on Saturday. Gretzky, nicknamed “The Great One” and considered the best player ever, played in only one world championship in 1982 during his Hall of Fame career, though his impact on the game made him one of sport's most recognizable names. Gretzky was the only Canadian voted on to the team in balloting conducted by a panel of 56 experts from 16 countries, with Russian players dominating the selection. Netminder Vladislav Tretiak, forwards Valeri Kharlamov, Sergei Makarov and defenseman Vyacheslav Fetisov, who were part of the Soviet teams that dominated international ice hockey from the 1960s to 1980s, were named along with Sweden's Borje Salming. The IIHF also announced the “Miracle on Ice”, the United States unlikely march to a gold medal at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, was voted the top hockey story of the century. “It pleases me that the ice hockey story of the century occurred at the Olympic Games,” said International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, who attended the ceremony. “This is what defining sporting moments are made of.”
