MONCTON, New Brunswick (AP) — Adam Gajan made 27 saves as Slovakia beat Latvia 3-0 Friday for its second victory in three Group B games at the junior hockey world championships.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Pool A in the only other game of the day, Germany beat Austria 4-2 to secure a place in the quarterfinals.
Slovakia will close the group game on Saturday against Switzerland. Latvia finished last in the group with one point. They will face Austria, last in Group A with four losses, in a best-of-three relegation round that begins in Halifax on Monday.
The United States will conclude the Pool B game against Finland on Saturday in Moncton. In the Pool A finals in Halifax on Saturday, Canada will play Sweden and Germany will face the Czech Republic.
Filip Mesar had a goal and an assist for Slovakia. Alex Ciernik and Simon Nemec also scored.
Gajan, 19, scored the goal in Slovakia’s 6-3 win over the United States on Tuesday. He has made two starts for the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL after appearing in 16 games with the NAHL’s Chippewa Steel to open the season.
“I was confident and I knew that I could play here, so I didn’t feel nervous or anything,” Gajan said. “So, I feel great on the ice.”
Patriks Berzins made 23 saves for Latvia.
“I think everyone is frustrated by the result,” said Latvian defender Bogdans Hodass. “It was not what we wanted. A bit of bad luck for sure. We had a lot of chances to score, but the puck just didn’t go in.”
Philpp Krening, Leon van der Linde, Thomas Heigl and Roman Kechter scored for Germany in their first win in three games. Nikita Quapp made 31 saves.
Ian Scherzer and Jonas Dobnig scored for Austria. Dobnig also missed a penalty shot.
