Switzerland advances to qualifying round at Worlds

Posted: Mon May 5 4:20 PM

Quebec City, QC (Sports Network) - Julien Sprunger scored a pair of goals to lift Switzerland to a 2-1 victory over Belarus in preliminary round play at the 2008 World Hockey Championship.

Switzerland improved to 2-0 in Group A and clinched a spot in the qualifying round of the tournament. Belarus has dropped its first two games and needs to beat France to avoid the relegation round.

Martin Gerber stopped 22 shots for the Swiss, who topped France on Friday and will face Sweden in its final preliminary round game on Wednesday.