“I blacked out,” Frondell said. “It was an amazing feeling. Third time. I had three tries, so happy the last one went in.”
Ivar Stenberg, a projected top 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and Eddie Genborg (Detroit Red Wings) each had a goal and an assist, and Love Harenstam (St. Louis Blues) made 33 saves for Sweden, which advanced to the championship game for the second time in three years.
Sweden, which seeks its first gold medal since 2012, is 22-20 with two ties in the all-time series against Finland since the inaugural 1977 World Juniors. The last 10 matches between the rivals has been decided by one goal, including Finland’s 4-3 overtime victory in the semifinals at the 2025 WJC in Ottawa.
“It was a good game, a little up and down, but the second period was really good for us,” Stenberg said.
Sweden’s line of Stenberg-Viggo Bjorck (2026 draft eligible)-Genborg combined for five points (two goals, three assists).
Petteri Rimpinen (Los Angeles Kings) made 36 saves for Finland.
“I’m just really sad right now,” Rimpinen said. “This is going to sting for the rest of my life, for sure. So [a heck] of a group. We played a really good game against a really good opponent and fought till the very end. And of course, needed one more save.”
Linus Eriksson (Florida Panthers) gave Sweden 1-0 lead just 36 seconds into the first period when his shot from the top of the left face-off circle from along the boards deflected off the glove of Rimpinen and into the net.
Atte Joki (Dallas Stars) pulled Finland into a 1-1 tie at 16:26 of the first when his shot from the top of the right circle beat Harenstam inside the right post.
Stenberg gave Sweden a 2-1 lead during a delayed penalty on a snap shot from the high slot at 1:20 of the second period.
Jasper Kuhta (2026 draft eligible) made it 2-2 just 50 seconds later when his shot attempt from the slot bounced off the glass and back over the net before Sweden defenseman Alfons Freij (Winnipeg Jets) swung and knocked it off of Hrenstam’s back and into the net at 2:10.
Genborg gave Sweden a 3-2 lead at 14:07 of the second when his shot at the left post bounced in behind Rimpinen, whose stick got stuck in the netting inside the goal.
Joona Saarelainen (Tampa Bay Lightning) pulled Finland into a 3-3 tie at 14:01 of the third period, scoring from low in the right circle after the puck bounced off two players in the slot.
In the shootout, Matias Vanhanen scored in the second round for Finland, and Jack Berglund (Philadelphia Flyers) scored in the fifth round, and Frondell won it three rounds later.
“I was so nervous,” Berglund said. “You can’t block that out. But I love those moments. … I’ve dreamed about shootout like that. So it was a relief to see it go in as well.”