Wednesday, December 16, 2009

CIS defeats Canada

Press Release

REGINA - Steven DaSilva scored twice in the third period as the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Saskatchewan All-Stars upset the Canadian junior team 4-2 in exhibition play Tuesday night before 3,329 at Brandt Arena.

Chris Durand had a goal and two assists and Brennan Bosch also scored for the CIS.

Philippe Cornet of Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and defenceman Dylan Olsen of the University of Minnesota-Duluth scored for Canada, who outshot the students 38-23 but were stoned by their own goaltenders, who played for both teams.

After two intrasquad games earlier this week, it was the last chance for the juniors to impress the coaches and management before the 22-man team roster for the world junior championships is announced on Wednesday, but few stood out in this contest.

They rested eight of the 31 players remaining in camp _ all of them strong bets to make the squad.

The CIS team was made up of players from the universities of Regina and Saskatchewan, most of them former Western Hockey League players, and gave the juniors a test with their experience and energy.

Also, Team Canada goalies Matt Hackett of the Plymouth Whalers, Olivier Roy of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Martin Jones of the Calgary Hitmen each played two periods one for each team _ and took turns frustrating their teammates.

Canada looked to be in control until running into penalty trouble in the third period.

Only seven seconds into a holding call on Cody Eakin of the Swift Current Broncos, DaSilva one-timed a pass from the slot past Roy to put the CIS in the lead at 7:35.

DaSilva got behind the defence and beat Roy with a high shot to seal the victory with 2:34 left to play.

The students scored first, as Durand's shot from the right side of the net slid under Hackett 8:36 into the game. Meanwhile, Roy stoned his teammates in the net, stopping Nazem Kadri of the London Knights on a breakaway in the final minute of the period.

Canada outshot the CIS 14-1 in the second frame, but the students scored on their only shot as Bosch got a return pass from Steve Gillen and banged it past Jones at 6:28.

Canada struck back 44 seconds later as Cornet was at the net to backhand the rebound of a Tyler Cuma shot past Hackett. Olsen tied it at 14:42 when he got a piece of Windsor Spitfire Taylor Hall's pass and it ducked inside Hackett's far post.

The juniors played with desperation but no finish in the third period. There were blazing rushes from Hall and Brandon Kozun of the Hitmen, and Adam Henrique of Windsor got in alone only to shoot over the net.

Defenceman Colten Teubert was the only one of six returning players from last year's world juniors to dress, and he was named captain for the game.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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