Canada East Takes Silver At World Junior A Challenge

November 24, 2011
Posted in Ontario Edition, Hockey Canada, Junior A

By HockeyCanada.ca /

Michael Neville (Woodbridge, Ont./St. Michael’s, OJHL) and Daniel Milne (Unionville, Ont./St. Michael’s, OJHL) scored the goals for East, which settled for silver for the fourth time in six years – in addition to losses to Canada West in 2006 and 2007, it also came up short against the U.S. last year in Penticton, B.C.

Alex Kerfoot scored once and added an assist to give Canada West a 2-0 lead midway through the second period and Carson Cooper scored the game-winner on a power play 40 seconds into the third as Canada West claimed its third gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge with a 4-2 win over Canada East, earlier this month.

All three of Canada West’s gold medals have come at the expense of Canada East – West topped East 4-3 at the inaugural WJAC in Yorkton, Sask., in 2006 before winning by a 4-1 score in Trail, B.C., one year later.

Canada West’s Evan Richardson opened the scoring 74 seconds into the second period and Aaron Hadley added insurance for Canada West 2:33 into the third to help West become the first team to ever win gold after going winless in the preliminary round.

The two teams combined for just one penalty – a slashing minor against East’s Tyson Spink (Williamstown, Ont./Cornwall, CCHL) that led to Cooper’s winning goal – setting a pair of WJAC records: fewest penalty minutes by one team (0, by Canada West) and fewest combined penalty minutes by both teams (two).

Following the game, Kerfoot and Canada West goaltender Sean Maguire (Powell River, B.C./Powell River, BCHL), along with Canada East forward Devin Shore (Ajax, Ont./Whitby, OJHL) and defenceman Kevin Lough (Ottawa, Ont./Cumberland, CCHL), U.S. forward Mario Lucia and Swedish defenceman Ludwig Bystrom were named to the tournament all-star team.

Shore, who finished with a tournament co-leading six points, was named World Junior A Challenge MVP, becoming the first Canada East player to earn the honour.

 

WJAC Quick Recap

WJAC TOURNEY ALL-STARS

G – Sean Maguire – Canada West

D – Ludwig Bystrom – Sweden

D – Kevin Lough – Canada East

F – Alex Kerfoot – Canada West

F – Devin Shore – Canada East (MVP)

F – Mario Lucia – United States

WJAC TOP 10 SCORERS

1. Sean Kuraly (USA) 3-3-6

2. Devin Shore (CAN E)   2-4-6
3. Mario Lucia (USA) 4-1-5

4. Radim Matus (CZE) 2-2-4

5. Tylor Spink (CAN E) 1-3-4

6. Vince Hinostroza (USA) 1-3-4

7. Aaron Hadley (CAN W) 3-0-3

8. Randy Gazzola (CAN E) 3-0-3

9. Alex Kerfoot (CAN W) 2-1-3

10. Bodgan Yakimov (RUS) 2-1-3

*six others with three points

WJAC GAME-BY-GAME RESULTS

CAN E 5 – CZE 0

USA 0 – SWE 1

CZE 4 – RUS 3

SWE 2 – CAN W 0

RUS 2 – CAN E 2 (SO)

CAN W 1 – USA 6

RUS 3 – USA 6 [Quarterfinal]

CAN W 4 – CZE 1 [Quarterfinal]

USA 2 – CAN E 4 [Semifinal]

CAN W 2 – SWE 1 (OT) [Semifinal]

RUS 3 – CZE 2 [5th Place]

USA 4 – SWE 0 [Bronze]

CAN W 4 – CAN E 2 [Gold]

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