Sunday, November 4, 2012

QUICK START HELPS CANADA EAST TO PRE-TOURNAMENT WIN OVER RUSSIANS

Press Release

DIGBY, N.S. – Blaine Byron (Manotick, Ont./Kemptville, CCHL) got the scoring started just 82 seconds after the puck dropped, sparking a three-goal first period and helping Canada East to a 4-2 win over Russia in World Junior A Challenge pre-tournament action on Saturday night.

Patrick McCarron (Etobicoke, Ont./St. Michael’s, OJHL) added a power-play goal less than five minutes after Byron’s goal and Dalen Hedges (Ottawa, Ont./Nepean, CCHL) made it 3-0 just past the midway point of the first period as the Canadians excited the standing room only crowd of more than 1,100 at the Digby Area Arena.

After the Russians pulled to within a goal early in the third period, Canada East captain Michael Neville (Woodbridge, Ont./St. Michael’s, OJHL) gave his team some breathing room with a shorthanded goal with less than six minutes to go, sealing the victory.

Ruslan Trubkin and Vladislav Gavrikov, both on the power play, scored for the Russians, who were outshot 36-22, including 16-6 in the third period when they were within a goal.

Both teams got a look at both of their goaltenders before the puck drops on the tournament Monday – Charlie Finn (North Vancouver, B.C./Kingston, OJHL) and Daniel Mannella (Woodbridge, Ont./Georgetown, OJHL) split the 60 minutes for the Canadians, while Ivan Bocharov played the first two periods for the Russians before giving way to Igor Shestyorkin.

Canada West and Russia will both see the ice at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth on Monday as the World Junior A Challenge kicks off – the Russians take on the Czech Republic in the matinee (4 p.m. AT), while the Canadians face the U.S. in the night cap (7:30 p.m. AT).


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

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