Norway can thank a Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick for propelling the country to its best showing in the modern era of the world hockey championship.
Leafs prospect Tinus Luc Koblar opened the scoring in the second period before Norway added an empty-netter in a 2-0 win over Latvia in a quarterfinal on Thursday in Fribourg, Switzerland.
Norway’s only previous quarterfinals appearances were in 2012 and 2008, both losses. The country placed fourth for its best showing in 1951, but that was a round-robin format.
Koblar, a second-round pick and Toronto’s first selection last year (64th overall), leads Norway with six goals and three assists in eight games this tournament.
Koblar, 18, had eight goals and six assists in 47 games for Leksands IF in Sweden’s top league last season.
The semifinals are Saturday, with the medal games on Sunday.
