rumours are "completely false" that he asked to be traded -

TORONTO — Having lost in the semifinal to Sweden the last two years, Russian coach Valeri Bragin said it was time to end the unlucky tradition.Alexander Sharov scored twice leading Russia to a berth in the gold medal game at the world junior hockey championship with a 4-1 win over Sweden on Sunday.Everybody understands we dont have a chance to have mistakes, said St. Louis Blues prospect, Ivan Barbashev. We know it was kind of brutal in our group, but after the quarter-finals and semifinals everybody was together and we play 100 per cent.The Russians will play either Canada or Slovakia on Monday night in the championship game.Bragin summed it up best when asked what itd mean to meet the Canadians in the final.Its the best thing for all of the hockey community, for business, he said. Russia - Canada: hockey classicZiat Paigin and Maxim Mamin had the other Russian goals. Lucas Wallmark scored the lone goal for Sweden.New York Rangers draft pick Igor Shestyorkin made 26 saves in the win while Linus Soderstrom stopped 27 shots for Sweden.It was the third time in the last four years the two countries met in a semifinal at the Under-20 tournament.It feels terrible right now. Cant describe it right now, said Swedish defenceman, and Vancouver Canucks prospect, Gustav Forsling. I dont think we shoot a lot like we should on this goalie. Hes not a good goalie so we should get some more shots through. Get some people in front. We dont do that.Russia scored twice a little over a minute apart in the second period.Sharov opened the scoring with his third of the tournament at 11:18 putting an Anatoli Golyshev feed past Soderstrom.Paigin made it 2-0 lead at 12:50 one-timing a pass from Rinat Valiev for his first of the tournament.Vyacheslav Leshenko had an excellent chance to give the Russians a 3-0 lead with just 39 seconds remaining in the second, but Soderstrom got his shoulder out to direct the shot over the net.Sharovs second of the game 1:31 into the third put it out of reach. The 19-year-old draft-eligible forward picked up a pass from Vladimir Bryukvin and beat Soderstrom with a wrist shot.First experience of my life, I was ready for this all my life, and Im very excited, said Valiev, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect. Its pretty exciting. I love to play here. It was tough games and hopefully were playing fine right now.Wallmark got Sweden on the board with his fourth of the tournament at 11:30 of the third.However, Mamin put home the rebound off of Ivan Fishenkos shot at 12:39 restoring Russias three-goal lead with his second goal of the tournament.Sweden, which won silver losing to Finland at the gold medal game at the tournament last year, now has a shot at bronze on Monday.However, they were finding it hard to look at a possible bronze as a positive.We have to win that game. Right now it sucks, but we have to get up tomorrow and win the game, said Forsling. Thats the only thing we can do right now.Added defenceman, Anton Karlsson: Its so disappointing. You want to play in the final and you want to play in a full arena.Sweden also defeated Russia 3-2 during the preliminary round on Dec. 29. Russia won Bronze at last years event defeating Canada 2-1. Cheap Basketball Shoes Wholesale . -- Ryan Gropp scored in overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds shut out the Spokane Chiefs 1-0 in Western Hockey League play Tuesday. Wholesale Basketball Shoes Free Shipping .com) - Klay Thompson is quickly proving he is worth every penny of his recently signed four-year contract extension. http://www.wholesalebasketballshoesaustralia.com/ . An in-person hearing allows for Garbutt to be suspended for five games or longer as per the leagues Collective Bargaining Agreement. Garbutt delivered a high hit to Penner in the second period of Sundays game. Cheap Basketball Shoes Online . Auld made 37 saves in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. It was Ottawas first game without starter Anderson, who is out indefinitely after cutting his hand Wednesday night, and it was evident the team wasnt sure how to deal with the change in goal. Wholesale Basketball Shoes Australia . Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed on Sunday that his starting goalie has a head injury and the team will take it day by day.Vancouver Canucks centre Ryan Kesler was doing damage control after practice on Thursday, refuting a report that hes asked for a trade. "I never commented to anyone that I wanted out," he explained. "My heart is with this group and making the playoffs." Kesler added that the rumours are "completely false" that he asked to be traded - recently or ever. "I dont want to talk about this," he continued. "I dont want this to be a distraction...Im happy to be here." While theres lots of speculation that the Canucks could be looking to move the 29-year-old centre, TVA Sports reported on Wednesday night that Kesler approached the team requesting to be deaalt.dddddddddddd Speaking to Adrian Dater of The Denver Post on Wednesday night, Keslers agent Kurt Overhardt also denied the story, calling it "a bunch of B.S." Kesler, 29, is recovering from a hand injury and did not dress on Wednesday night for Vancouvers post-Olympic opener against the St. Louis Blues. He hopes to play Friday night when the Canucks host the Minnesota Wild. He has two more years remaining on a six-year, $30 million contract, which pays him $5 million in each of the next two seasons. "Whether he wants to go or stay, hes not going anywhere," Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo told reporters. "We all know how this script ends." ' ' '