2017 WU17 Hockey Challenge: Semi-Final Recap
Team Canada Red will play for gold on Saturday, defeating the Czech Republic 3-2 in Semi-Final action. They’ll face the United States who defeated Team Canada White by a score of 9-1 in the tournament’s other Semi-Final matchup. Team Canada Black rounded out the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with a seventh place finish. Here’s a closer look at those details and more.
CANADA RED 3 – CZECH REPUBLIC 2
Team Canada Red will play for gold on Saturday night after Xavier Parent (Halifax Mooseheads) netted the power play game winner with 90 seconds let in a 3-2 triumph over the Czech Republic. Dylan Cozens (Lethbridge Hurricanes) and Justin Barron (Halifax Mooseheads) picked up assists on the goal while Alexis Lafreniere (Rimouski Oceanic) and Nick Wong (Oshawa Generals) provided other markers. Luke Cavallin (Flint Firebirds) turned aside 25 of the 27 shots he faced as Canada Red outshot the Czechs 32-27. Parent ends Friday’s action as the leading scorer among CHL players in the tournament, recording four goals, three assists and seven points over five contests. A Canadian team will compete in the Gold Medal Game for a third straight year after Canada Black won silver in Sault Ste. Marie last November. Canadian Red will square off against the United States on Saturday in Dawson Creek, BC at 7:00pm MST.
UNITED STATES 9 – CANADA WHITE 1
Team Canada White’s tournament came to an end in Friday’s other Semi-Final matchup as the United States took a 9-1 win behind three point efforts by Matthew Boldy and Jack Hughes. The Americans outshot Canada White 39-19 and went 4-for-10 on the power play while the Canadians were held to an 0-for-7 mark. 16 of Team USA’s 20 skaters recorded a point in the game while Canada White’s lone goal came off the stick of Joe Carroll (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds). Team Canada White will play in Saturday afternoon’s Bronze Medal Game against the Czech Republic at 2:30pm MST in Dawson Creek, BC.
CANADA BLACK 4 – SWEDEN 2
Sasha Mutala (Tri-City Americans) had another three-point effort with a goal and two assists to lead Team Canada Black to a 4-2 win over Sweden in Friday’s seventh-place game. Aidan Prueter (Saginaw Spirit) chipped in with a goal and an assist while Dawson Mercer (Drummondville Voltigeurs) and Kamloops Blazers draft pick Massimo Rizzo also scored. Kelowna Rockets prospect Roman Basran turned aside 30 of the 32 shots he faced to backstop Canada Black to victory. Team Canada Black rounds out the tournament with three wins and a pair of one-goal losses.
RUSSIA 5 – FINLAND 4
Ilya Safonov and Ottawa 67’s prospect Egor Afanasyev both had a goal and an assist as Russia held off Finland for a 5-4 win to claim fifth place at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Finland had a goal and an assist each from Anton Lundell and Antti Saarela in the loss.
For news, stats and scores from the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, visit hockeycanada.ca.