Team White defeats Team Red

Press Release

Saskatoon, Sask. – Team White overcame an early deficit scoring four unanswered goals which led to a 5-2 win over Team Red Friday night in front of 2,653 fans at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Sask. 2009 World Junior Championship gold medalist Jordan Eberle and Ryan O’Reilly led the way with a goal and an assist apiece in the Team White victory.

Patrice Cormier opened the scoring for Team Red in the first minute of play when he redirected a point shot from Calvin de Haan 48 seconds into the game. Travis Hamonic was credited with the second assist on the play.
Team Red nearly took a two goal lead if not for the quick glove of Olivier Roy stealing a goal from Cody Eakin in the slot.

Ryan O’Reilly and Alex Pietrangelo each found the net for Team White late in the first period to take a 2-1 lead. O’Reilly banged home a rebound from a Gabriel Bourque shot at 15:13 of the frame while Pietrangelo took a feed from Kelsey Tessier at the point and fired a slap shot past Martin Jones at 18:08. O’Reilly also picked up his second point of the game with an assist on the play.

Team White continued to build on its lead in the second frame when Louis Leblanc took a pass from Luke Adam and made a move to his backhand in close to beat Matt Hackett at 13:21.

Jordan Eberle netted another goal at 8:53 of the third period, tapping in a pass from Eric O’Dell into the open side.
Team Red kept the game close when T.J Brodie scored a power play marker from Greg Nemisz at 14:20 of the period.
A Team Red timeout late in the game failed to produce any late offense, instead surrendering an empty net goal to Evander Kane, set up by Eberle, at the 19:30 mark of the third.

Team White outshot Team Red 33-23 in the contest. Olivier Bellavance-Roy made seven saves for Team White with Jake Allen making 14 saves. Jones made 11 saves for Team Red with Hackett stopping 17 shots.
The teams participated in a shootout following the contest with Team White earning the 1-0 victory on the lone goal by Matt Duchene scoring on a wrist shot past Hackett.

Team Canada World Junior alumni were in attendance on the benches as assistant coaches. Kyle Calder (1999) helped out Team Red with Luke Schenn (2008) behind the bench for Team White.

Teams Red and White are back in action Sunday evening, August 9th, at the CUC in Saskatoon with puck drop scheduled for 6 pm (MT). Catch the game live through FastHockey at www.hockeycanada.ca

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