2018 World Junior A Challenge

WEST WINS BRONZE IN BONNYVILLE

JASON LA ROSE

BONNYVILLE, Alta. – Dylan Holloway (Bragg Creek, Alta./Okotoks, AJHL) scored a pair of goals and Matthew Radomsky (Winnipeg, Man./Steinbach, MJHL) made 46 saves, leading Canada West to the bronze medal at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge with a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic on Sunday afternoon.

It’s the 10th medal in 13 years for West at the tournament, and second bronze – it also finished third in 2013.

Ethan Leyh (Port Moody, B.C./Langley, BCHL) added the game-winning goal and Layton Ahac (North Vancouver, B.C./Prince George, BCHL) chipped in with two assists for the Canadians, who were on the ice less than 15 hours after their heart-breaking overtime loss to the United States.

Despite the short turnaround it was all West early; Holloway got it started at 1:52, banging his third chance past Czech goaltender Tomas Vomacka, and Leyh ripped home a one-timer at 7:16 to make it 2-0.

That was more than enough for Radomsky, who turned aside 33 shots through the first two periods and stopped the first 40 he faced before Michal Teply tipped in a Zack Malik shot with 6:16 remaining.

But Holloway got that back within two minutes, wiring a quick shot upstairs on Vomacka to restore the two-goal advantage and all but clinch the bronze medal.

Holloway, Leyh and Harrison Blaisdell (Abbotsford, B.C./Chilliwack, BCHL) finished as the leading scorers for the Canadians, posting five points each in six games.

Radomsky starred throughout the tournament; his 1.64 goals-against average .955 save percentage are the second-best marks in the tournament, both behind Russian netminder Yaroslav Askarov.