Wednesday, January 5, 2011

MAGEE NETS OT WINNER AS PACIFIC WINS BRONZE

Press Release

WINNIPEG, Man. – Pacific is back on the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge podium after a one-year absence, claiming the bronze medal with a 5-4 victory over Quebec on Tuesday afternoon at the MTS Centre.

Brandon Magee was the overtime hero, scoring 1:34 into the extra period to cap off a wild final 21-and-a-half minutes. Felix Girard’s goal at the 1:54 mark of the third period gave Quebec a 3-1 lead, but goals 3:12 apart from Robert Trzonkowski and Mike Winther allowed Pacific to pull even.

Dominic Poulin restored the Quebec lead with a power play marker at 12:54, but tournament all-star Hunter Shinkaruk brought Pacific even again with 3:29 to go, stepping out from behind the net and roofing a shot over the shoulder of Quebec goaltender François Tremblay.

The comeback was nothing new for Pacific, which fought back from a 5-1 late-second-period deficit to force overtime in their semifinal against the United States on Monday, only to fall short in the extra frame.

Magee made sure they would be the ones celebrating on Tuesday, tipping a Joshua Smith pass past Tremblay for the game winner.

Poulin finished with a pair of goals for Quebec, which failed in its attempt to win a medal for the first time since it won gold in 2006 in Regina, Sask. For Pacific, the medal is its eighth in the last tournament, which includes five silvers and three bronze.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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