BC Hockey League graduate Martin Kariya will try to help Team Canada to gold at the Spengler Cup on Wednesday.
Earlier today, Kariya scored the game winner in a 6-3 victory over Russian side Dynamo Moscow in his team's final round-robin game. Canada finished the round robin with three wins and an overtime loss, also defeating Energie Karlovy Vary of the Czech Republic (3-1) and ERC Ingolstadt from Germany (5-2). The lone defeat was a shootout to host side HC Davos (6-5).
Kariya finished the round-robin with two goals and two assists.
Canada will face Dynamo Moscow in Wednesday’s championship game. The game can be seen live on Rogers Sportsnet at 6 a.m. EST/3 a.m. PST.
Canada’s roster is comprised of Canadian-born players currently playing in Europe, along with NHL prospects loaned to Hockey Canada from National Hockey League teams. The team was selected by Johnny Misley, Hockey Canada’s executive vice-president of hockey operations, along with head coach Sean Simpson and assistant coaches Serge Pelletier and Russ Courtnall.
Canada has appeared in seven of the last eight championship games, winning the Spengler Cup in 2002, 2003 and 2007. Overall, Canada’s National Men’s Team has won the Spengler Cup 11 times (1984, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007), since first taking part in the tournament in 1984.
The Spengler Cup, held annually since 1923, is the oldest professional international hockey tournament in the world.
