EDGES SCORES TWICE TO LEAD CANADA EAST OVER SWISS FOR FIRST WIN

Press Release

ARMOUTH, N.S. – Dalen Hedges (Ottawa, Ont./Nepean, CCHL) scored twice, including the game-winner in the second period, as Canada East picked up its first win of the 2012 World Junior A Challenge, 4-3 over Switzerland on Wednesday night.

The victory means Canada East will face the Czech Republic in Thursday’s late quarter-final (7:30 p.m. AT), while the Swiss will take on Russia in the early quarter (4 p.m. AT).

Marly Quince (Sioux Lookout, Ont./Cornwall, CCHL) and Justin Danforth (Oshawa, Ont./Cobourg, OJHL) had the other goals for Canada East (1-1), who will play in a quarter-final for only the third time in seven World Junior A Challenge appearances; they won their pool and went straight to the semifinals in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

Four Canadian players finished with multiple-point games – Hedges scored twice, Quince had a goal and an assist, and Brent Norris (Ottawa, Ont./Nepean, CCHL) and Blaine Byron (Manotick, Ont./Kemptville, CCHL) had two helpers apiece.

Charlie Finn (North Vancouver, B.C./Kingston, OJHL) had 28 saves to earn the victory in goal for Canada East.

Valentin Luthi, Lukas Sieber and Luca Fazzini had the goals for Switzerland (0-2), which pulled to within a goal from a 4-1 deficit for the second night in a row, only to come up short.

The Swiss went winless in the preliminary round two years after winning their group when they made their tournament debut at the 2010 tournament in Penticton, B.C.

Melvin Nyffeler made his first appearance in the Swiss net, stopping 30 shots in a losing cause.


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)