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After a day off, placement matches got the action at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup going again. In Trenčín, Switzerland faced Germany for seventh place. The Swiss team had to relocate to Brno, but secured a hard-fought 5:2 win.
Penalties: 8:6. PP goals: 0:0. SH goals: 0:0.
Referees: Baluška, Výleta – Tichý, Hercog. Attendance: 353.
Report
Germany started slightly better and got the game going in the 7th minute when Münger hit the post and Niclas Rentsch buried the rebound to make it 1:0. Just two minutes later, a mishandled long shot by goalie Bolle allowed Clemens Troxler just enough space to tap it in to double their lead to 2:0.
Switzerland kept control and again early in the second period. Fabrice Bouvard powered through from the boards and beat the goalie with a quick wrist shot. Soon after, Bolle stopped Bouvard in a similar situation.
Germany responded in the 31st minute. After a failed powerplay, Karl Wolfsteiner found a loose puck and scored – 3:1. Shortly before the second break, Luis Becker narrowed the gap further with a slick backhand finish ro reduce the deficit to just one goal.
Germany had chances to tie it in the third, including a breakaway by Wolfsteiner and another by Kuhn, but Swiss goalie Zambelli stood firm. With 90 seconds left, Germany pulled their goalie, but Rentsch scored into the empty net to make it 4:2. Sol Fueter added another with five seconds remaining, finalising the score to 5:2.
Switzerland finish the tournament in seventh place after a solid win. Germany, winless, finish the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in last place.