Sunday, January 1, 2012

COOPER GETS WINNER AS ATLANTIC EARNS FIRST WIN

Press Release

LASALLE, Ont. – Oliver Cooper (Fredericton, N.B./Saint John, QMJHL) scored the game-winner with just over six minutes to go, helping Atlantic to its first victory of the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, 4-3 over Germany on Saturday night.

It’s the fourth time in five years Atlantic (1-1) has beaten the Germans in the preliminary round – it won 7-2 last year in Winnipeg, Man., 6-5 in overtime in 2009 in Port Alberni, B.C., and 3-2 in 2008 in London, Ont. Germany did not take part in the 2010 tournament in Timmins, Ont.

Atlantic captain Nathan MacKinnon (Cole Harbour, N.S./Halifax, QMJHL) added a goal and an assist in the victory, scoring his first of the tournament and setting up Cooper’s winner. Mike Lyle (Florence, N.S./Acadie-Bathurst, QMJHL) and Thomas Stavert (Kensington, P.E.I./Notre Dame, SMAAAHL) had the other Atlantic goals, while Andrew Mergl (Quispamsis, N.B./Saint John, NBPEIMMHL) made 39 saves.

Janick Moeser opened the scoring for Germany (0-3) just 36 seconds in, the first goal scored by the Germans in the tournament, and Fabio Wagner and Marc Schmidpeter scored to momentarily bring the European side even at 3-3 after Atlantic had taken a two-goal lead.

Atlantic is right back on the ice Sunday night, taking on undefeated Ontario in LaSalle (7 p.m. ET), while the Germans have a short turnaround, facing Sweden on Sunday afternoon in Tecumseh (2 p.m. ET).

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

No comments: