When the tournament started and Canada West lost that first game I never would of thought they would be playing in the gold medal game. Beating the US was one of the biggest shocks I have seen in a game in awhile. Just because of how strong of a team USA had. There will be a few names on that team we will hear called at the 2024 NHL draft.
I would also rather have Mike Menzies from the Pontiacs do the game than Craig Button. That guy has a voice meant for broadcasting.
Jack Silverberg opening up the scoring for Canada West from his Okotoks Oilers teammate Sam Huck.-In the final, Silverberg opened the scoring with Huck playing provider on the rush just 70 seconds into the gold medal game.
Layne Loomer scores on the Power Play assisted from fellow Penn State commit Nathan Free– Canada West added a Layne Loomer powerplay tally
Canada East outshot Canada West 10-9 in the opening period of the game.
Saskatoon native Ronan Buckberger made it 3-0 with a shot from the point off the face off with the assist to Alex Dimitriadis. Buckberger’s older brother Braxton played four games for the Bulldogs in 2021-22.
Matt Van Blaricom makes it 4-0 with the assist to Brook Bandit Logan Sayer at 13:09 of the middle frame. Van Blaricom who is comitted to Michigan Tech has 33 points in 22 games with the Humboldt Broncos in the SJHL the team Canada West Coach Scott Barney coaches. Van Blaricom is third in Broncos scoring. The leading scorer of the Humboldt Broncos as of print is Spencer Bell who use to play with the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Nipawin Hawk Ronan Buckburger makes it 5-0 on a strange bounce of the shoulder from Alexander Dimitriadis. Not quite certain if he was trying to dish it out to the front or what. Tack on another assist for Dimitriadis. Also that was the end of Canada East goalie Dawson Labre’s night.
Canada West outshot Canada East 15-10 in the second period.
Coburg Cougar Trevor Hoskin scored for Canada East to make it 5-1 just 24 seconds in to the third period unassisted. Hoskin is one of the few players on Canada East that actually has an NCAA scholarship. The majority all played in the OHL.
Then Matt Van Blaricom responds and makes it 6-1 at 2:10 of the third period unassisted.
Niverville Nighthawk Nathan Brown scored to make it 7-1 with the assist going to Sherwood Park Crusader Ryan Zaremba. Nathan Brown is committed to St. Cloud next season. He is also the only representative from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League on Canada West.
Vincent Gauthier who plays for the Valleyfield Braves in the QJHL makes it 8-2 when he scores for Canada east with just a little over 2 minutes left in the game. Taeo Artichuk got the assist on that goal.
Before they announce them I am saying star of the game for Canada is Van Blaricom. For East it is Hoskins. It was Roest for West which really is a given not that I forgot just spoiled as he played well all tournament.
Erik Roest was amazing stopping 30 of the 32 shots for the win. Also being named goaltender of the tournament which was really a no brainer. Dawson Labre who plays for the Smith Falls Bears of the CCHL stopped 18 of the 23 shots he faced before being replaced by Sebastian Gatto who stopped 9 of the 11 shots he faced for Canada East.
I would be in awe and start laughing my ass of if J Rock came into the dressing room to pump me up before a game. Lots of the Comedy this guy use to do was amazing. I wonder if any of those kids even know who is is. I thought he retired before most of them were born.
