2020 Olympic Winter Games (Youth)

CANADA FALLS IN SEMIS AT YOUTH OLYMPICS

JASON LA ROSE

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Nate Danielson (Red Deer, Alta./Northern Alberta, CSSHL) scored early in the third period to get Canada within a goal, but it couldn’t find the equalizer in a narrow 2-1 loss to the United States in the semifinals Tuesday at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

The defeat sends Canada to the bronze medal game on Wednesday (6 a.m. ET/3 a.m. PT). It will take on the loser of the Russia-Finland semifinal for third place.

Down by a pair of goals entering the third period, Danielson cut the deficit in half when he slipped a backhand past American goaltender Dylan Silverstein with his back to the net.

The Canadians swarmed the U.S. net in the final frame, outshooting their North American neighbours 10-3, but Silverstein was up to the task. The best opportunities came on a late power play with netminder Vincent Filion (Shawinigan, Que./Trois-Rivières, LHMAAAQ) on the bench for a two-man advantage, but Canada did everything except tie the game.

The first period was 15 minutes of frenetic, end-to-end hockey; the U.S. had an 8-6 advantage in shots in a scoreless opening stanza. Filion provided the biggest highlight, diving to his right to rob Maddox Fleming with a paddle stop.

The U.S. finally struck first three minutes into the second period when Frank Nazar was awarded a penalty shot. He roofed a backhand over a sprawling Filion for a 1-0 lead.

It was 2-0 just 2:14 later when Isaac Howard took a feed from behind the net from Chaz Lucius and beat Filion with a quick shot on an American power play.

The Canadian puck-stopper was perfect from there, giving his team a chance to come back with a 24-save performance.