Canada East defeated Team Switzerland 4-3 during Game 6 of the preliminary round of the World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth.
The Swiss team scored with 56.2 seconds left to come within one goal and then pulled its goalie for the extra attacker on the ice but Canada East hung on for the win.
The victory means Canada East will face the Czech Republic in Thursday’s late quarter-final (7:30 p.m. AT), while the Swiss will take on Russia in the early quarter (4 p.m. AT).
HOCKEY CANADA GAME SUMMARY:
Dalen Hedges (Ottawa, Ont./Nepean, CCHL) scored twice, including the game-winner in the second period, as Canada East picked up its first win of the 2012 World Junior A Challenge, 4-3 over Switzerland on Wednesday night.
Marly Quince (Sioux Lookout, Ont./Cornwall, CCHL) and Justin Danforth (Oshawa, Ont./Cobourg, OJHL) had the other goals for Canada East (1-1), who will play in a quarter-final for only the third time in seven World Junior A Challenge appearances; they won their pool and went straight to the semifinals in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011.
Four Canadian players finished with multiple-point games – Hedges scored twice, Quince had a goal and an assist, and Brent Norris (Ottawa, Ont./Nepean, CCHL) and Blaine Byron (Manotick, Ont./Kemptville, CCHL) had two helpers apiece.
- Read more special articles :
- - 6-3 golden USA win over Canada West
- - Yarmouth hosts a winning team
- - Team West wins prospects series
- - Canada, USA, going for gold in Yarmouth
Charlie Finn (North Vancouver, B.C./Kingston, OJHL) had 28 saves to earn the victory in goal for Canada East.
Valentin Luthi, Lukas Sieber and Luca Fazzini had the goals for Switzerland (0-2), which pulled to within a goal from a 4-1 deficit for the second night in a row, only to come up short.
The Swiss went winless in the preliminary round two years after winning their group when they made their tournament debut at the 2010 tournament in Penticton, B.C.
Melvin Nyffeler made his first appearance in the Swiss net, stopping 30 shots in a losing cause.
First Period Goals:
09:00 SUI 15 Valentin Luthi (24 Remo Heitzmann, 16 Sandro Zangger) PP
09:17 CAN E 11 Dalen Hedges (9 Brent Norris, 15 Marly Quince)
13:15 CAN E 15 Marly Quince (18 Blaine Byron, 6 Patrick McCarron) PP
Penalties:
07:43 CAN E 4 Thomas Welsh (Roughing)
11:47 SUI 24 Remo Heitzmann (Interference)
11:54 SUI 19 Jorden Gahler (10-Minute Misconduct)
11:54 SUI 19 Jorden Gahler (Checking from Behind)
Second Period Goals:
08:12 CAN E 26 Justin Danforth (14 Mike Soucier, 18 Blaine Byron)
08:50 CAN E 11 Dalen Hedges (15 Marly Quince, 9 Brent Norris)
18:48 SUI 17 Lukas Sieber (10 Luca Fazzini)
Penalties:
02:55 SUI 8 Lukas Frick (Tripping)
10:26 SUI 19 Jorden Gahler (Charging)
13:34 CAN E 16 Troy Josephs (Holding)
Third Period Goals:
19:03 SUI 10 Luca Fazzini (16 Sandro Zangger)
Penalties:
None
