2014 World Junior A Challenge

JOST SCORES SHOOTOUT WINNER, CANADA WEST ENDS PRELIMS WITH WIN

JASON LA ROSE

KINDERSLEY, Sask. – Tyson Jost (Kelowna, B.C./Penticton, BCHL) scored in regulation time and added the winner in the shootout to lead Canada West to a 3-2 win over Russia in the preliminary round finale Tuesday night at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge.

The win sets up an all-Canadian quarter-final on Wednesday night, with Canada West meeting Canada East (7:30 p.m. CT). It’s the first time the Canadian rivals have ever met in the quarter-finals.

With the game on his stick, Jost skated wide to the left of Anton Krasotkin, cut towards the net and snapped a quick, low shot just over the blocker of the Russian netminder to clinch the victory.

Gabe Bast (Red Deer, Alta./Penticton, BCHL) had the other goal in regulation for the Canadians, who gained a small measure of revenge for their 5-2 loss to Russia in last year’s semifinals.

Denis Guryanov and Kirill Kaprizov scored goals and Dmitri Zhukenov added two assists for Russia, which will face Switzerland in Wednesday’s other quarter-final (3:30 p.m. CT).

Jost wasted no time opening the scoring, stepping into the Russian zone and beating Krasotkin through the five-hole just 1:39 in for his second goal in as many games.

Bast also got his second early in the middle frame, following a Jost shot to the net and banging in a bouncing puck. Demico Hannoun (North Delta, B.C./Penticton, BCHL) earned the second assist as three Penticton Vees combined on the 2-0 goal.

Guryanov got the Russian comeback started less than five minutes after Bast’s goal, rushing into the Canadian zone and beating Tommy Nixon (Sherwood Park, Alta./Sherwood Park, AJHL) with a shot that handcuffed the Canada West goaltender.

Kaprizov tied it at 3:37 of the third period, forcing overtime and, ultimately, a shootout.

Jackson Keane (Winnipeg, Man./Winnipeg, MJHL) went first for the Canadians, beating Krasotkin through the legs with a slick deke, and Nixon responded by turning away Vladimir Barabanov.

After Hannoun rattled his shootout opportunity off the crossbar, Nixon made it two-for-two with a save on Mikhail Vorobyov and set the stage for Jost’s winner.

Canada West outshot the Russians in every period, and finished with a 46-34 advantage overall.