Day Three Wrap up

Press Release

IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – The United States is the first team into the semifinals at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Robbie Russo scored two of the Americans’ five power play goals as they notched a 7-4 win over Russia on Thursday night, picking up their third win in as many days and ensuring they would be a part of the U17 final four for the fourth consecutive tournament.

J.T. Miller added a goal and two assists and Rocco Grimaldi pitched in with three helpers as the U.S. (3-0) ran its round-robin undefeated streak to 13 games, dating back to a 4-2 loss to Slovakia at the 2006 tournament in Regina, Sask.

Tyler Biggs, Alexx Privatera and Dan Carlson had the other American goals. The U.S. fired a whopping 51 shots at Russian netminder Andrey Makarov, who took the loss despite a 44-save performance.

Maxim Kazakov scored twice to lead Russia (1-1), which did itself no favours by taking 10 consecutive penalties in a 24-minute stretch spanning the second and third periods. Maxim Shalunov and Alexander Khokhlachev had the other goals for the Russians, who scored three power play goals of their own.

Press Release

TIMMINS, Ont. – The Swedes are sitting pretty, but West is in trouble at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Mika Zibanejad scored once and added an assist in the decisive third period as Sweden kept its unblemished record intact with a 5-2 victory over West on Thursday night at McIntyre Arena, dropping the Canadian side to 0-2.

Zibanejad also added a goal in the second period for a three-point night, while Joakim Ryan, Victor Arvidsson and Karl Johansson also found the back of the net in the final 20 minutes. Ryan and Zibanejad scored less than two minutes apart early in the third to break open a 1-1 tie.

Todd Fiddler and Michael St. Croix had the goals for West, which needs wins in both of its final preliminary round games – including against two-time defending gold medalist Ontario on Saturday – if it hopes to run its semifinal-appearance streak to three years.

West pulled to within a goal at 3-2 on St. Croix’s first goal of the tournament, but Arvidsson restored the two-goal lead just 46 seconds later and Johansson ended the drama and ensured Sweden would take its perfect record into its New Year’s Day showdown with Ontario.

Press Release

IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – Coming off a pair of lopsided losses at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and trailing by a goal late in the third period, there were likely few at Jus Jordan Arena who expected a comeback from Atlantic on Thursday afternoon.

But Bryce Milson tied the game with 3:59 to go and Brent Andrews scored the game-winner 1:16 into overtime as the Canadian side scored its first win of the tournament with a 5-4 victory over the Czech Republic.

Atlantic actually fought back from a pair of deficits, climbing out of a 3-1 hole in the second period before the Czechs retook the lead early in the third.

Ryan Tesink scored a goal and set up Andrews’ winner, Milson finished with a pair of goals and Darcy Ashley also put his name on the scoresheet for Atlantic, whose last two round-robin wins have come in the extra period.

Marek Hrbas netted a pair of goals for the Czechs, while David Brezina and Vaclav Tomek also beat Atlantic netminder Jordan Kennedy, who made 37 saves in the win. Hrbas added an assist to his two goals, moving him into the top five in tournament scoring.

Quebec 6 Finland 3

Press Release

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