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The Toronto Maple Leafs six prospects at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships have advanced to the semi-final on Monday, as Russia got past Germany 2-1 and Finland rebounded from an early two-goal deficit to win 3-2 over arch-rival Sweden.

2020 first rounder Rodion Amirov was held pointless, but registered three shots on goal and had a couple scoring chances in just over 19 minutes of ice time. 2019 fourth rounder Mikhail Abramov was not in the lineup after being suspended by the IIHF for one game for a slew-foot on Sweden’s Arvid Costmar, while goalie Artur Ahktyamov served as the backup for Yaroslav Askarov.

Vasili Podkolzin (@Canucks) steals the puck and sets Rodion Amirov (@MapleLeafs) up with a yawning cage, but no dice.

(📹: @TSN_Sports)#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/rCoCHIWdJk

— EP Rinkside (@EPRinkside) January 2, 2021

Roni Hirvonen was the hero of the day for the Finns, as the 2020 second-rounder scored with 23 seconds left in regulation on a wraparound for the game winner, just moments after Leafs prospect Mikko Kokkonen nearly put his club in the lead.

Roni Hirvonen’s last-minute heroics send 🇫🇮 through to the #WorldJuniors semifinals pic.twitter.com/aRRyzAtZJt

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 2, 2021

“We had good pressure in the last minute (of regulation), we had a chance right before that. I just continued that pressure and scrambled (around) the net and it went in.” Hirvonen said after the game. “It’s always exciting to play against the Swedes and a different mindset when we play against them.”

Defenseman Topi Niemela was held off the scoreboard, but was on the ice for Henri Nikkanen’s second period marker and Hirvonen’s winner.

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The Leafs placed two players on waivers this week prior to the opening of training camp. Forward Kalle Kossila and defenseman David Warsofsky cleared, which means they will be assigned to the AHL Toronto Marlies after training camp, which starts with medicals and media availabilities on Sunday.


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