TRAIL, BC – Canada West and Canada East have advanced to the World Junior A Challenge championship game on Sunday, November 11th on the strength of semi-final wins on Saturday night, Hockey Canada and the CJAHL announced. It marks the second consecutive year that the two Canadian teams have bested their international opponents to meet in the final
In Trail, Louke Oakley (Whitby, ON/ Bowmanville, OPJHL) scored the winning goal on a penalty shot in the third period as Canada East edged Russia 2-1.
In Nelson, Canada West advanced to the final with a 5-1 win over USA. Mike Connolly (Calgary, AB/ Camrose, AJHL) and Joe Colborne (Calgary, AB/ Camrose, AJHL) combined for six points as Canada West will get to defend it’s 2006 World Junior A Challenge title on Sunday.
USA and Russia will meet in the bronze medal game.
Earlier in the day, Belarus defeated Germany 5-3 on the strength of two goals from Andrei Stas, to win the 5th place game.
Final schedule – Sunday, November 11th
2:00 pm Bronze medal game USA vs. Russia Trail, BC
7:30 pm Gold medal game Canada West vs. Canada East Trail, BC TSN/RDS
The World Junior A Challenge is a presentation of Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL).
The 2007 World Junior A Challenge runs through November 11th in Trail and Nelson, BC. Some tickets are still available for the bronze medal game. The gold medal final is sold out.
The gold medal game between Canada East and Canada West will be broadcast on tape delay on TSN/RDS, the official broadcaster of Hockey Canada. Check your local listings for broadcast times in your area.
The bronze medal game between USA and Russia will be available via webcast at www.hockeycanada.ca