Canada secures a spot in the finals for the third year in a row, following a decisive victory of 5-1 against the United States. The win was a collective effort, with goals scored by Cameron Schmidt from Vancouver, Alex Huang from Chicoutimi, Cole Reschny from Victoria, Luca Romano from Kitchener, and Gavin McKenna from Medicine Hat. The team’s success was further bolstered by the impressive performance of Jack Ivankovic, who made 28 saves. If they emerge victorious on Saturday, Canada will achieve their 25th gold medal in this competition.
Vancouver Giant’s Cameron Schmidt opened up the scoring for the Canadians on the Power Play at 15:05 of the first period with the assists going to Matthew Schaefer and Emile Guite. Schmidt parked himself on the doorstep of the U.S. net with Canada on a first-period powerplay and corralled a bouncing puck past the American netminder to break the ice. The tally stands as the 5’8 Prince George, BC native Rookie of the Year’s third of the tournament,
Canada outshot the Americans in the first period 14-11
Alex Huang scores right out of the penalty box when Brady Martin delayed and spotted him exactly 3 minutes into the second period to make it a 2-0 game.-Defenceman Alex Huang (Chicoutimi Sagueneens, QMJHL) would double the lead after serving a penalty for hooking early in the second period, hopping out of the box, picking up a puck and converging on the opponent’s net to snag his third tally of the event with a short-side wrister.
The US responded when Chaska, MN native Sam Spehar picked a perfect shot on the left side to get the US within one just 35 seconds later at 3:35 of the second period. The assist on the goal went to Appleton, Wisconsin native Sam Kappell who played last season with the Madison Capitals of the USHL.
Ben Kindel is found in front by Matthew Schaefer to make it a 3-1 game, or maybe not it was reviewed for goalie interference and the goal is disallowed. Desnoyers sort of interfered not that the goalie would of stopped it anyway.
Cole Reschny snipes one after Gavin McKenna passed the puck to himself, Reschny receiving a pass from McKenna, evading his check, driving through the high slot and ripping a shot home to restore the two-goal lead.. Reschny, who hails from Macklin, Sask., now has a team-leading three goals and four assists for seven points in four games at the tournament.
Shots on goal in the second period were 13-7 for the Canadians
Canada scored on the empty net with 2:24 left in the game after Ivankovic made a big save on the Americans. Romano fired it down into the empty net to make it a 4-1 Canada game. The goal was credited as unassisted on the Hlinka website. I thought at the time Ivankovic got an assist on it.
Gavin McKenna scores to make it 5-1 The Medicine Hat Tigers star and WHL Rookie of the Year did it all himself on a late powerplay with a sensational top-shelf backhand move. Assists on the goal went to Caleb Desnoyers and Calgary Hitmen winger Benjamin Kindel provided a secondary assist on the play. Time of the goal was 19:46 of the third period.
Shots on goal in the third period were 11-8 for the Canadians. The Canadians outshot the Americans in the game 35-29.
Jack Ivankovic made 28 saves on the 29 shots that he faced for the win for the Canadians. For the Americans Ryan Cameron made 30 saves on the 34 shots that he faced. Cameron played last season with the Long Island Gulls of the U16AAA league.
Player of the game for the USA was Blake Fiddler for Canada it was Matthew Schaefer. I am really hoping that they give Schaefer along with McKenna a very long and serious look to make this years WJC team. They are ready.
Canada plays the Czechs for the gold on Saturday night. Americans and Sweden battle for Bronze.
