Switzerland defeated France 6-0 on Saturday to sweep its relegation series in two straight games. The Swiss will return for the 2019 U18 Worlds in Sweden.

Newly promoted France was outscored 41-6 in Chelyabinsk and Magnitogorsk in its
U18 debut. On balance, this is still a positive learning experience as Les Bleus head back to Division IA.

Swiss starter Luca Hollenstein recorded a 19-save shutout. France's Valentin Duquette had 34 saves.

On Switzerland's second power play of the game, Gian-Marco Wetter opened the scoring at 14:08 with his first goal of the tournament, set up by Julian Mettler. It took just 1:24 for Gilian Kohler to stretch the lead to 2-0.

Barandun and Hollenstein assisted on Keijo Weibel's back-breaking 3-0 marker at
1:47 of the second period. It is rarely a good sign when the opposing goalie gets on the scoresheet.

Kohler got his hat trick with goals at 7:38 of the second and 2:46 of the third. The Kootenay Ice forward's star turn pushed this into blowout territory at the Arena Metallurg. Kohler assisted on Luca de Nisco's 6-0 goal with 10 minutes left. He finished as the team's goals leader (5) and tied Mettler for the most points (7).

Switzerland's ninth-place finish matches its worst-ever placement (2003, 2005).
Previously, the Swiss had made the quarter-finals every year since 2007. Regardless, it's a relief to be returning to the top U18 division for the twelfth consecutive year.

The 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship will take place in Ornskoldsvik
and Umea, Sweden.

LUCAS AYKROYD

http://u18worlds2018.iihf.hockey/en/news/fra-sui/
--- SBBSecho 3.04-Win32
* Origin: TequilaMockingbird Online - Toms River, NJ (1:266/404)