Wolves Lose to Sweden

Press Release

TEAM SWEDEN is the only team to go undefeated in round robin play after defeating the SUDBURY WOLVES by a score of 6-3. The Swedes finished the divisional play with a perfect 4-0 record and 12 points. The first place finish gives them a semi-final match-up with TEAM USA.

SAM SCHUTT got the ball rolling for the Wolves when he socred at the four minute mark on the Wolves' first shot on goal. SCHUTT was the recipient of a great pass from DOMINIK KUBALIK and made no mistake in close. DOMINIK KAHUN picked up the other assist. TEAM SWEDEN then responded with two power play goals to carry a 2-1 lead into the second period. TEAM SWEDEN out shot Sudbury by a count of 13-4 in the first period.

SWEDEN then scored another power play marker early in the second period before the Wolves battled back with two consecutive goals to tie the game at 3-3. NICK BAPTISTE scored on a nice passing play from BRODY SILK and JACOB HARRIS. NATHAN PANCEL then scored on the power play. MIKE KANTOR and MATHEW CAMPAGNA picked up the assists. SWEDEN was then awarded a penalty shot and scored giving TEAM SWEDEN a 4-3 lead heading into the third period. Shots on goal in the second period were 10-9 in favour of Sweden.

TEAM SWEDEN opened the third with another power play goal in the first minute of the period. Despite some excellent scoring chances, the Wolves couldn't beat goaltender JACOB JOHANNSEN in the third period and the Swedes completed the scoring with an empty net goal. Shots on goal in the third period were 14-9 for Sudbury. Overall the shots on goal were 32-27 in favour of TEAM SWEDEN. SWEDEN was 4 for 6 on the power play while the Wolves went 1 for 5.

"I thought we competed pretty hard tonight but they capitalized on their power plays and we didn't" said Wolves' Head Coach TRENT CULL. "The Swedes are a highly skilled team and they move the puck very well on the power play. I thought we battled back well to tie the game, but, they responded well with that penalty shot goal."

The Wolves were without the services of JUSTIN SEFTON and CHARLIE DODERO who sat-out the game with injuries. The Wolves finished in second place in the B Division and will now face the first place team in the A Division from Belarus. Belarus finished the tournament with a 3-1 record for 9 points while the Wolves finished up with a record of 2-1-1 for 7 points. Belarus defeated TEAM USA and TEAM RUSSIA to begin the tournament and quickly became a tournament favourite.

The semi-final game will be played on Saturday at 5 pm at the OMSK ARENA (6 am Sudbury time). It will be the Wolves first game in the new state-of-the-art complex that seats 10,000 fans and serves as the home to the local KHL team. There were 9,000 fans in attendance last night for the TEAM RUSSIA vs TEAM USA game which the States won by a score of 7-3.

The 10 team tournament is now down to just four teams. TEAM SWEDEN, TEAM BELARUS, TEAM USA and TEAM CANADA.

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