AMERICANS GET GAME’S FINAL THREE TO KNOCK OFF CANADA WEST

MONTAGUE, P.E.I. – It may not have been the gold medal game, but the United States got the better of Canada West again on Friday night, scoring the game’s final three goals to earn a 5-2 win at the Montague and Area Wellness Centre.

In a rematch of last year’s final game, won 7-1 by the Americans, the U.S. got two goals from Shane Berschbach, a goal two assists from Nic Dowd and timely goaltending from Will Yanakeff to pick up the victory.

Jeff Costello and John Parker also dented the twine for the Americans in their lone pre-tournament game. The U.S. side had little opportunity to practice coming in, thanks to an airline mishap that saw them arrive in Summerside on Wednesday with only two of 22 equipment bags.

Twins Connor Jones (Montrose, B.C./Vernon, BCHL) and Kellen Jones (Montrose, B.C./Vernon, BCHL) scored the goals for Canada West, which saw its pre-tournament record evened at 1-1 with the loss.

Both teams will see action on Sunday, the first day of the 2009 World Junior A Challenge – Canada West will take part in the tournament’s first game, taking on Russia at 2 p.m. AT, while the U.S. faces Canada East at 7 p.m. AT.