Team Canada West the other entry in the Junior A Hockey Challenge taking place at the LEC punched their ticket to the Championship game Sunday as they got revenge on Sweden with a thrilling 2-1 O/T victory.
Alex Kerfoot scored the game winning goal two minutes into O/T to clinch his sides reservation into the Gold Medal game.
They will face-off against Canada East Sunday marking the first the two Canadian teams have faced each other in the finals since 2006 and 2007 (the first two-years) of the tournament.
Sweden and Canada West featured some excellent action as it featured excellent goalkeeping and PK’s at both ends of the ice.
Canada West opened the scoring with the teams playing five aside as Adam Hadley beat Swedish “tender” Oscar Dansk at 6:32 low to the stick side to give them a 1-0 lead.
Team Sweden came back strong and pressed the Canada West but a strong back end shut the door on any chances that they created on Canada West “tender” Sean Maguire as he made several point blank stop’s leaving them shaking their heads.
Canadian West came close to taking more of a lead, if it weren’t for Swedish “tender” Oscar Dansk played solid in keeping it a 1-0 lead after one. Canada West outshot Sweden after one period 12-8.
The second again featured fast action by both sides as the teams exchanged numerous scoring chances, with Maguire again being put to the test.
Oscar Dansk of Sweden continued to give his team chance after chance to climb back as he stoned the Canada West and reversing the shots in the second. Sweden outshot Canada West 9-8 and though two periods it was 20-17 for Sweden.
The boy’s from Sweden got the equalizer as Canadian d-man Juha “blew a tire” allowing Jesper Froden to get around him beating Mcguire at 7:09.
The special team PK and PP again were solid as the teams failed to convert any shots with the man advantage taking a 1-1 tie to the dressing room after two. The third both clubs stepped it up a notch which featured a tremendous ability in talent at both ends of the ice.
Again solid goalkeeping at both ends with several quality chances seeing both Dansk and Maguire come up huge. Shots in the period were 12-3 for Sweden held a edge in shots 29-20 entering the 10 minute O/T frame.
Canada West’s Alex Kerfoot took a great stretch pass from Sam Jardine and went in alone on Dansk of Sweden and pulled a backhand forehand shot sliding in the game winning goal inside the post at 2:09.
This goal advanced Canada West into the Championship game and the 2-1 victory was the “play of the game”.
The fans went wild as the goal was scored and the final shot tally was 29-24 for Sweden. Dansk finished with 22 saves while Maguire made 28 leading his team to the victory.
Players of the game were:
Sweden Ludvig Bystrom
Canada West Alex Kerfoot
Extra Fun 2 Watch
The finals see Canada East face-off against Canada West for Gold at 5 pm.
Prior to this there is still more great action, including a battle for 5th place between the Czech Republic and Russia at 12:00pm on Saturday.
Then this event features the first of two CJHL Prospects game. The first is Saturday at 4:00pm featuring some of the best players in the country putting on a show.
The Bronze Medal game features the US and Sweden at 7:30pm finishing off that portion of the schedule.
The Final day of competition features the second of two Prospects games at noon followed by the final Championship Gold Medal game between Team Canada West and Team Canada East at 5:00pm.
