WJAC Day 4 Recap

USA v Russia 4-2; CANE v Czech 2-1

Post-Game recaps thanks to LSC Industrial

Team USA continues to dominate at the World Jr A Challenge, after suffering only one loss early in the tournament to the Czech Republic they will advance to the finals after a win over Russia, 4-2 on Thursday. Team Canada East did what their comrades, Team West, could not and defeated the Czech Republic in overtime on Thursday, 2-1, to advance to Saturday’s final match.

Today on the schedule, Canada West will meet Switzerland, battling for fifth place in the tournament, at 3:30 pm at the RJ Lalonde Arena; and it’ll be Russia versus the Czechs for the bronze medal game.

 

Team USA vs Team Russia

Zach Solow opened the game at 18:05, in the first, with a power play goal for the US, while Russia’s Andrei Svechnikov was feeling the effects of a two minute wait on a high-sticking call. American, Chris Berger also excelled at the power play before the close of the period, with a goal on a Mikhail Bitsadze hooking penalty; making it a 2-0 game after 20 minutes.

The Americans continues to excel at the power play, in the second, as Brannon McManus put one deep, after a hooking call sent  Veniamin Baranov to the box. Jake Ryczek continued the US domination into the third with the team’s forth goal of the afternoon on Russian goalie, Dimitrii Raiko. That was enough for Team Russia to pull their goalie and put in Daniil Iakovlev who played out the remaining 12 minutes without letting any goals past him.

The Russian got the turn they needed with Iakovlev in net and flipped it around on the Americans, with a goal soon after from Andrei Svechnikov. Would’ve the Russians had more time, we could’ve seen another team heading to the finals; but alas, they did not. Andrei Svechnikov put in another goal at the 19:41 mark to close the game on a strong, but not strong enough effort.

Tyson Dolynny with the Post-Game Show with Zach Soloway

The Americans took the game 4-2 and advance to Saturday’s finals.

 

Team Canada East vs Team Czech Republic

The Canada East – Czech Republic was everything you’d expect from two top teams wanting  a berth into the finals. The Czech, undefeated to this point in the tournament, had taken out the crowd favourite, Team Canada West, the evening before in an exciting shootout. On Thursday, much the same was displayed on the ice.

The first and second periods were fought scoreless, in fact it was past the halfway mark in the game, when the Canadians finally put a point on the board. Vincent Chapleau was the hero up until less than two minutes left in the game, just as the crowd as pressing their car starters to beat the -25 temperatures in Bonnyville, Kristian Reichel of the Czech team tied it up and forced extra time.

Unlike the previous night, the Czech were not successful with more time, it was the Canadians who excelled. With just 2:20 into overtime, Lucas Thierus scored the game winner and erupted the crowd in cheer.

Big save by Stefano [Cantali]. [Tim] Theochardis passed me the puck and I saw the defenceman flat-footed, so I just kept skating, skating, skating to the [face-off] dot, and just shot. Sometimes that shot goes in, sometimes it doesn’t, so I was happy [it went in]. Wearing the jersey, seeing the crowd … I couldn’t ask for more. – Lucas Thierus Team Canada East

 

Tyson Dolynny Post Game Show with Lucas Thierus

The Canadians advance to Saturday’s final game at 5:00 pm, while the Czechs meet the Russians Friday at 7:30 pm.