On Monday, the games will count for real but on Saturday all six teams in this year’s World Junior A Challenge had a final tune-up. Here’s the details…
CHILLIWACK, B.C. – Andrei Vasilevski and Ivan Nalimov combined to make 52 saves, leading Russia to a 2-1 win over Canada West in 2011 World Junior A Challenge pre-tournament action on Saturday night.
The Canadians outshot Russia 52-21, including 23-10 in the first period, but could manage only one goal, a first-period power play marker off the stick of Wesley Myron (Victoria, B.C./Victoria, BCHL).
Myron’s goal pulled Canada West even at 1-1 after the Russians had taken an early lead with a power play goal of their own from Arseni Erokhin, who needed just six seconds of man advantage time to beat Canadian netminder Sean Maguire (Powell River, B.C./Powell River, BCHL).
Arseni Khatsei restored the Russian lead early in the second period with the eventual game winner on another power play, the last puck to beat any of the three goaltenders.
Both teams have an off day to start the 2011 World Junior A Challenge on Monday before opening their tournaments Tuesday. Russia faces the Czech Republic at 4 p.m. PT, followed by Canada West taking on Sweden at 7:30 p.m. MT.
NORTH DELTA, B.C. – Ryan McKay stopped 32 shots and Sean Kuraly scored once and added an assist as the United States beat Canada East 4-1 on Saturday night in 2011 World Junior A Challenge pre-tournament action.
The game was a rematch of last year’s gold medal game in Penticton, B.C., won 6-4 by the Americans.
Mario Lucia, Vince Hinostroza and Austin Cangelosi also scored for the U.S., which has won the last three gold medals at the World Junior A Challenge.
Devin Shore (Ajax, Ont./Whitby, OJHL) scored the lone goal for Canada East, which outshot the Americans 33-30 but couldn’t take advantage of its opportunities, including a pair of five-on-three power plays early in the second period.
After being outshot 15-5 in the first period the Canadians held a 28-15 advantage over the final 40 minutes.
Both teams open the 2011 World Junior A Challenge on Monday – Canada East faces the Czech Republic in the early game (4 p.m. PT), while the Americans take on Sweden in the late contest (7:30 p.m. PT).
LANGLEY, B.C. – Gustav Possler scored twice to lead the way offensively as Sweden routed the Czech Republic 8-2 in 2011 World Junior A Challenge pre-tournament action on Saturday afternoon at the Langley Events Centre.
Possler also added an assist for a three-point performance, while Tommy Stenqvist chipped in with three helpers.
Seeven different players scored goals and 15 recorded at least a point for the Swedes, who outshot the Czechs 17-1 in the first period and led 6-0 after two.
Calle Andersson, Filip Sandberg, Tobias Törnqvist, Alexander Wennberg, Erik Karlsson and Jesper Pettersson also scored for the Swedes, who held a 34-24 advantage overall in shots on goal.
Matej Zadrazil and Radim Matus scored the goals for the Czech Republic, which is making its debut at this year’s tournament.
Both teams open the 2011 World Junior A Challenge on Monday – the Czechs face Canada East in the early game (4 p.m. PT), while the Swedes take on the three-time defending gold medallists from the U.S. in the late contest (7:30 p.m. PT).
