Thursday, January 1, 2009

Update from the U-17's

ONTARIO 5 – RUSSIA 2

PORT ALBERNI, BC ? Ontario has passed its first big test at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Leading by just a goal heading after 40 minutes, the defending gold medalists struck three times in the final 40 minutes en route to a 5-2 win over Russia on Wednesday afternoon at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.

John McFarland led the way for Ontario, recording a hat trick in the win. McFarland scored once in the second period and twice in the third to lead the Ontarians to their second win in as many games at the U17 tournament. Tyler Toffoli and Sam Carrick also scored in the win.

Vladislav Namestnikov, who scored four times in Russia?s win over Slovakia on Tuesday, and Aleksander Gogolev had the goals for the Russians, who dropped to 1-2 in Group A.

Ontario will ring in the New Year on Thursday by traveling to Courtenay to face Germany (2 p.m. PST), while Russia will have the day off Thursday before taking on the Germans in Courtenay to wrap up the preliminary round on Friday (2 p.m. PST).


UNITED STATES 4 – QUEBEC 3

PORT ALBERNI, BC ? After a blowout win in its tournament opener, the United States got its first test of the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge on Wednesday night.

Jason Zucker scored shorthanded with 7:41 to go to complete the Americans? third-period comeback from two goals down and top Quebec 4-3 at the Alberni Valley Multiplex, moving into a tie atop Group B with Pacific at 2-0.

Brandon Saad, Adam Clendining and Kevin Clare also scored for the U.S., who was outshot 43-34 by Quebec but got 40 saves from Will Yanakeff between the pipes to record the win.

Quebec, which fell to 1-2 and saw its semifinal hopes all but dashed, got goals from Gabriel Desjardins, Cédrick Henley and Stefan Fournier. The Canadian side lost for just the third time in its last seven U17 games against the Americans.

Quebec will hit the ice for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday when it travels to Courtenay to face Finland (7 p.m. PST), while the Americans will look to stay undefeated when they face Slovakia in Port Alberni (2 p.m. PST).


GERMANY 5 – ATLANTIC 6 (OT)


DUNCAN, BC ? Brandon Hynes was the hero of the day, finishing off his hat trick with a goal 4:17 into overtime as Atlantic picked up its first victory of the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, topping Germany 6-5.
Hynes also added two assists to finish with five points as the Canadian side survived a wild final two minutes to earn the win. Patrick Downe, Brandon Gormley and Stephen MacAulay also scored for Atlantic.
Trailing late in the final period, Gormley tied the game for Atlantic with 90 seconds to go, only to see Tom Kühnhackl restore the German lead just 12 seconds later. MacAulay would tie the game again for Atlantic with 18 seconds remaining, setting up Hynes? heroics.
Bernhard Keil scored a pair of goals to lead Germany. Kühnhackl, Marcel Noebels and Thomas Merl also scored for the Europeans, who have won only one of their last 14 preliminary round games.
Atlantic will be back in action on Thursday night, facing an undefeated Pacific team at the Alberni Valley Multiplex (7 p.m. PST), while Germany will travel to the Comox Valley Sports Centre in Courtenay to face Ontario (2 p.m. PST).


WEST 7 – SLOVAKIA 2


DUNCAN, BC ? Make it three-for-three for West at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Dylan Wruck scored a pair of goals as the 2008 bronze medalists became the first team to clinch a spot in Saturday?s semifinals with a 7-2 victory over Slovakia at the Cowichan Centre on Wednesday afternoon.
Jaden Schwartz, Jordan De Pape, Brooks Macek, Mark Stone and Matt Glowa also scored for the Westerners. Wruck added a pair of assists to his total for a four-point outing, while Charles Inglis had a trio of helpers.
Radoslav Macik and Tomas Jurco had the goals for Slovakia, which dropped to 0-2 with its second loss in as many days. The Europeans have lost 10 of their last 12 at the U17 tournament, dating back to the 2006 event in Regina, SK.
West will enjoy a well-deserved day off on Thursday before wrapping up the preliminary round against Finland in Port Alberni on Friday (2 p.m. PST), while the Slovakians will be in tough against the United States at the Alberni Valley Multiplex on Thursday afternoon (2 p.m. PST).

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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