Story highlights
- Germany beats Canada 4-3 in Olympic semifinals
- Canada mounted late comeback but to no avail
- Germans last claimed Olympic ice hockey medal in 1976
(CNN)Germany stunned defending champions Canada 4-3 Friday to reach the men's Olympic ice hockey final for the first time.
In a pulsating match at the Gangneung Hockey Centre, the 10th ranked Germans raced into a 3-0 lead and held on towards the end despite a spirited comeback from the much fancied Canadians.
Brooks Macek, Matthias Plachta, Frank Mauer and Patrick Hager all scored for the Germans who are now guaranteed at least a silver medal.
The "Eagle Carriers" will face the Olympic Athletes from Russia on Sunday's final while Canada will play the Czech Republic for bronze on Saturday.
German team full of joy
'We are fascinated'
No German team has medaled in hockey since the 1976 Games in Innsbruck when West Germany claimed bronze.
And the 2018 team's achievements have captured the imagination of fans back home.
Tennis legend Boris Becker tweeted his excitement over the victory. "We are totally fascinated by the ice hockey team," he wrote in German, "Who would have thought that before the tournament?"