CANADA ADVANCES TO U-18 SEMI-FINAL

SOCHI, RUS – Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice scored and set up another to help Canada to a 6-0 shutout win over the Czech Republic in the quarter-final of the 2013 IIHF Under-18 World Championship on Thursday in Sochi, Russia.

Connor McDavid scored a hat trick for the second straight game while Nick Baptiste and Laurent Dauphin also scored for Canada.  Seattle Thunderbirds’ defenceman Shea Theodore picked up a pair of assists while Madison Bowey of the Kelowna Rockets and Morgan Klimchuk of the Regina Pats also picked up assists in the win.

Philippe Desrosier stopped all 19 shots he faced to post his second straight shutout for Canada, who advance to the semi-final on Friday where they’ll face Finland and battle for a spot in the Gold medal game on Sunday.

Seven players from the Western Hockey League are currently playing for Team Canada at the Under-18 World Championship.

For more on the 2013 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, visit www.hockeycanada.ca