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Czech Republic tops Oly hockey champ Sweden

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic (AP) -- The Czech Republic scored three goals in the second period and held on to beat Olympic champion Sweden 5-2 in the Czech Hockey Games on Saturday.

After being tied 1-1 in the opening period, Jaroslav Bednar, Jiri Hudler and Josef Vasicek scored for the host nation in the second. Hudler's tally, just over a minute after Bednar's go-ahead goal, came on the power play.

Josef Melichar and Petr Kumstadt also scored for the Czechs. Johan Harju and Linus Omark replied for Sweden.

The Czechs lead the opening European Hockey Tour standings with six points.

Defending Euro Tour and world champion Russia, which beat Finland 3-2 earlier, has four points in second place, followed by Sweden with two and Finland with zero.

The Czech Republic tournament ends Sunday with Sweden playing Nordic rival Finland and the Czechs facing Russia.

Other tournaments in the European Hockey Tour are in Finland, Russia and Sweden later this season.

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