NYFFELER GETS SHUTOUT, SWISS SCORE FOUR ON POWER PLAY TO WIN BRONZE

Press Release

YARMOUTH, N.S. – Melvin Nyffeler stopped all 27 shots he faced for the shutout and six different players scored goals as Switzerland blanked Canada East 6-0 on Saturday night in the bronze medal game at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge.

It is the second time in as many appearances the Swiss have taken home bronze from the tournament; they finished third when they made their tournament debut in 2010 in Penticton, B.C.

Robin Leone, Nolan Diem, Luca Fazzini, Jorden Gahler, Christoph Bertschy and Sandro Zangger all scored goals for the Swiss, with the markers by Diem, Fazzini, Bertschy and Zangger coming on the power play. Luka Hoffmann added three assists in the win, while Jan Neunschwander contributed two helpers.
Switzerland scored in the first and last minutes of the first period to take an early lead and bumped it to a three-goal lead after two periods before doubling its advantage in the final 20 minutes.

Charlie Finn (North Vancouver, B.C./Kingston, OJHL) took the loss for in goal for Canada East, making 26 saves as the Canadians finished out of the medals for just the second time in seven appearances.
Canada East did not score a goal in its final 133 minutes of play, shut out in its semifinal loss to Canada West on Friday night as well as its bronze medal game setback.

A penalty-filled third period saw the teams combine for 215 penalty minutes, setting a tournament record.


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