Canada Neutralizes the Swiss

Piestany, Slovakia- The Canadians got a two assist effort from Brayden Schenn (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL, 2009) in the 5-3 victory over Switzerland. Schenn set up Brandon Wheat King teammate Scott Glennie for the eventual game winning goal. Matthew Duchene (Brampton Battalion, OHL, 2009) had a goal and an assist. Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires, OHL, 2010) had two assists.

Switzerland got on the board first. with a goal at the 27 second mark. Reto Schäppi got the goal with Renato Engler and Nino Niederreiter getting the helpers. Six minutes later, Evander Kane (Vancouver Giants, WHL, 2009) got the game even at one goal a piece. That was a powerplay tally. Fellow WHLers Braydon Schenn and Stefan Elliot (Sakatoon Blades, WHL, 2009) getting the helpers. The game would stay tied when the teams headed to the dressing room.

Canada got the lead to two 63 seconds into the second stanza. Louis LeBlanc (Omaha Lancers, USHL, Harvard (2009), 2009) made a deke to get the puck past the Swiss netminder. Matt Duchene and Taylor Hall set up the play With 63 seconds remaining in the second, Ryan O'Reilly (Erie Otters, OHL, 2009) stretched Canada's lead to two. It was Canada's second powerplay goal of the game. Cody Eakin of the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL got the lone assist.

Reto Schäppi likes to score in the first minute of the period. Thirty-four seconds into the third, he got the Swiss back to one goal. Nino Niederreiter got his second assist of the game. Scott Glennie scored on the powerplay at the 7:08 mark of the third period. Braydon Schenn got the lone helper. Matt Duchene gave the Canadians an insurance goal just over a minute later. Switzerland closed the gap to two with 5:03 to go. Tristan Scherwey got the powerplay tally and Andrea Cavegn and Ryan McGregor got the helpers.

Nathan Lieuwen (Westside, BCHL, 2009) made 16 saves on 19 shots. Benjamin Conz made stopped 42 shots on 47 chances. Canada was 3 for 7 on the man advantage and Switzerland was 1 for 8. Matt Duchene was named Canada's player of the game.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for MVN.com. He's the writer for the Asylum which covers the Lewiston Maineiacs of the QMJHL. He's also a regular contributor to the NHL Source also at MVN.com. He can be reached at fbbhgfan@aol.com)