Canada Drops U-18 Opener to Russia

Canada’s National Men’s Under 18 Team

2002 IIHF World Under 18 Hockey Championship

April 11, 2002

Piestany, Slovakia

Final score: RUSSIA 8 CANADA 4

Piestany, Slovakia- Canada’s National Under 18 Team opened the World Under 18 Hockey Championship with a tough 8-4 loss to the defending champion Russians in a spirited effort in Piestany, Slovakia.

Russia opened the scoring at 4:08 on the heels of a powerplay as Alexander Ovetchkine’s shot from the slot seemed to change directions on Canadian netminder Maxime Daigneault, finding the back of the net.

But Canada, only together as a team for six days, responded at 5:44 as Ben Eager (Oshawa Generals), of Ottawa, ON, put an Eric Staal (Peterborough Petes) rebound behind the Russian goaltender Denis Khudyakov. But Canada couldn’t subsist during a second Russian powerplay as Nikolai Zherdev scored on a perfect feed from Alexei Chkotov.

Canada showed it’s wears on it’s first powerplay at 12:56, following constant pressure, team captain André Benoit (Kitchener Rangers), of St. Albert, ON, cashed in from the slot as Canada tied it up at 2-2. And after killing off another Russian powerplay, Brett O’Malley, of Stettler, AB, jumped on a loose puck during a scurmish, giving Canada it’s first lead.

Canada made it a two-goal lead shorthanded to open the third as Pierre-Marc Bouchard, of Boucherville, QC, sped past the Russian defence and deposited a backhand past the surprised goaltender.

Russia’s powerplay was busy for most of the second and found the mark twice, evening things up at 4-4 through 40 minutes. Nikolai Zherdev, with his second, and Igor Ignatouchkine accounted for the scoring.

In a spirited third period, Russia was first on the board as Alexander Semine slid the puck between Daigneault’s pads from in close as Russia took claim on a 5-4 lead. Russia made it 6-4 on a disputed goal as Daigneault seemed to have frozen the puck but Russian defenceman Konstantin Korneev came storming into the crease sending both Daigneault and the puck into the net. The goal stood and Russia added late goals by Alexandre Ovechiun and Alexander Semin to make the final 8-4 Russia.

Canada is taking part in it’s first ever World Under 18 Hockey Championship, and is comprised of players born in 1984, presently not involved in the playoffs in either the CHL, university or Junior “A” leagues. Canada’s next game comes on Friday, April 12th as they face Germany, who tied Norway 2-2 in its opening game.

Final score: RUSSIA 8 CANADA 4

1st period/1re période

1. 4:08 RUS Alexandre Ovetchkine (Igor Ignatouchine)

2. 5:11 CAN Ben Eager (Eric Staal)

3. 11:05 RUS Nikolai Zherdev (Alexei Chkotov, Maxim Checheviev) PPG/AN

4. 12:56 CAN André Benoit (Eric Staal) PPG/AN

5. 19:39 CAN Brett O’Malley (unassisted/sans aides)

Penalties/Punitions : James Sanford, CAN (tripping/trébucher) 1:40; Dylan Stanley, CAN (interference/obstruction) 9:07; Dmitri Kozmachev, RUS (charging/assaut) 11:53; André Benoit, CAN (hooking/accrochage) 16:56; Ben Eager, CAN (slashing/cingler) 19:29

2nd period/2e période

6. 1:26 CAN Pierre-Marc Bouchard (unassisted/sans aides)

7. 7:05 RUS Nikolai Zherdev (Alexandre Semine) PPG/AN

8. 11 :56 RUS Igor Ignatouchkine (Ilia Krikounov) PPG/AN

Penalties/Punitions : Nikolai Zherdev, RUS (hooking/accrochage) 4:55; Dylan Stanley, CAN (hooking/accrochage) 6:16; Nikolai Zherdev, RUS (highsticking/bâton élevé) 7:49; Michael Lambert, CAN (slashing/cingler), Ben Eager, CAN (roughing/rudesse), Anton Babchuk, CAN (roughing/rudesse) 9:45; Igor Ignatouchkine, RUS (slashing/cingler), John Boychuk, CAN (interference/obstruction) 13:13; Jon Filewich, CAN (charging/assaut) 16:32

3rd period/3e période

9. 9:10 RUS Alexandre Semine (Sergei Chemetov)

10. 12 :53 RUS Konstantin Koneev (Alexandre Semine)

11. 17 :02 RUS Alexandre Ovechiun (Ilia Krikunov)

12. 19 :26 RUS Alexandre Semine (Maxim Scheviev)

Penalties/Punitions : Rosario Ruggeri, CAN (tripping/trébucher) 7:07; Adam Henrich, CAN (slashing major/majeure pour avoir cingler; misconduct/inconduite) 19:45

Goals by period/Buts par période:

1 2 3 T

RUSSIA 2 2 4 8

CANADA 3 1 0 4

Shots on goal/Tirs au but:

1 2 3 T

RUS Denis Khudyakov 16 9 10 35

CAN Maxime Daigneault 13 8 15 36

Powerplays

RUS 3-9

CAN 1-3

Attendance : 2800