2005 WORLD JR. HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP - Dec. 25 - Jan. 4, 2005

[BOREALIS]

Switzerland 5, Belarus 0 ~ played Dec. 26

Last update: December 26, 2004 at 10:50 PM

Associated Press
December 26, 2004


GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - Kevin Romy scored twice and Michael Tobler made 19 saves to help Switzerland defeat Belarus 5-0 on Sunday in its opening game of the World Junior Hockey Championship.

Tobler made four difficult saves in the first five minutes as Belarus controlled play, but Switzerland took a 1-0 lead in the first period on Roman Wick's wraparound goal.

"Getting the lead was very important because (Belarus) had already played a game and you usually have the most difficulty in your first game," Switzerland coach Jakob Kolliker said. "Our goalie had good positioning and he stayed cool."

In the second period, Romy scored a short-handed goal, and Victor Stancescu and Marco Kaser also scored to give Switzerland a 4-0 lead.

Romy's second goal was the only score of the third period.

Goryachevskikh made 32 saves for Belarus, which fell to 0-2.

"We would never think that we could have such a bad game," Belarus assistant coach Aliaksei Shcheblanow said.

It was the tournament opener for Switzerland, which plays 1-0 United States on Monday.

Linus Persson and Johannes Salmonsson scored two goals each as Sweden opened the tournament with a 6-0 win over Germany in Thief River Falls, Minn.

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