Ice hockey-Holders Sweden beat Slovakia to reach semi finals

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Tony Martensson got a hat-trick and Jonathan Hedstrom scored twice to help power holders Sweden to a 7-4 win over Slovakia and into the semi-finals of the ice hockey world championship on Wednesday.

The Olympic champions join Russia in the final four, the hosts advancing earlier with 4-0 shutout win over the Czech Republic.

Canada will faceoff against Switzerland and the United States will take on Finland on Thursday to decide the two remaining semi-final berths.

Trailing 2-1 after the opening period, the Swedes' attack came to life in the second with Hedstrom notching his second and third of the tournament and Martensson getting his first of the game.

After Minnesota Wild's Branko Radivojevic scored early in the third to trim the deficit to 4-3, Martensson quickly restored Sweden's two-goal cushion, taking control of the puck near centre ice then stick handling his way through the Slovakia defence and beating Karol Krizan.

Sweden's Magnus Johansson and Slovakia's Roman Kukumberg then traded goals before Martensson completed the hat-trick, scoring into an empty net.

Atlanta Thrashers' Marian Hossa and Richard Kapus both found the back of the net in the opening period for Slovakia while Fredrik Warg opened Sweden's account.

Keywords: ICE HOCKEY WORLD/SWEDEN

[MOSCOW/Reuters/Finance.cz]