USA puts scare into Canada, but host country wins 3-2
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Canada completed the round robin at the World Junior Hockey Championships perfect at 4-0.
However, Team USA came close to spoiling the New Year’s Eve party at Rexall Place in Edmonton.
The USA struck for two late third period goals but that was not enough to knock off Team Canada as the host country prevailed 3-2 before 16,647 screaming fansThe team now heads south to Calgary to play in Tuesday’s semifinal.
Mark Stone led the host country with a goal and an assist. Jaden Schwartz and Brett Connolly also scored for Canada while goalie Scott Wedgewood, who saw his five-period shutout streak end, made 30 saves for his second win of the tournament.
Charlie Coyle and captain Jason Zucker replied for the U.S. in the third period. Goaltender Jack Campbell, playing in his third straight world junior tournament, made 32 saves.
Canada (4-0) had already secured first in Pool B and a bye to the semifinals heading into the game, while the U.S. (1-3) already knew it was headed for relegation round.
Canada now faces the winner of the Russia/Czech Republic game in Monday’s quarter-final.
The Russians lost in overtime to Sweden in Pool A action. Finland plays Slovakia in the other quarterfinal with the winner meeting Sweden.
SHOOTOUT:Barry Kazimer of Campbell River, B.C. only was able to score 11-of-20 pucks in the net during the Chevrolet Volt Million Dollar Shootout. He did, however, win three electric cars — one for himself and two relatives. To win the Million, he needed to convert 15 or more. . . . The lucky winner of Saturday’s 50-50 during the Canada/USA contest will have $146,140 to spend. The winning number is 153794C.
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