World Junior Challenge

International hockey hits Summerside, P.E.I.

October 29, 2009 CBC NEWS

Summerside, P.E.I., is hosting the World Junior Hockey Challenge starting this weekend, with teams from Belarus, Russia, the U.S., Sweden and two teams from Canada competing

"It'll be very heated and the level of hockey that you'll see on the ice will be outstanding," said Kevin Webster, manager of hockey services and events for Hockey Canada.

Many of the players at this tournament are vying for positions on their national teams for the World Junior Championship later this year. Some of them are hoping for even more, with hundreds of NHL scouts planning to attend.

"Over 60 kids have been drafted to the NHL now from this event," said Webster.

Kevin Webster of Hockey Canada says the level of play will be high. (CBC)

"There's been at least dozen kids invited to World Junior camps that have played in this event."

Summerside is also excited about the event. The tournament in Camrose, Alta., last year was worth more than $2 million to the local economy. It's expected the event in Summerside will be just as lucrative.

The city is reporting 500 people have purchased tournament passes, not counting scouts and families coming with the teams. Officials are expecting good crowds at Credit Union Place for every game.

Before the week-long tournament starts Sunday, the teams play exhibition games Thursday and Friday in Amherst and Truro in Nova Scotia, and Montague, O'Leary and Charlottetown in P.E.I.

CANADA EAST OFFENCE EXPLODES IN ROUT OF RUSSIA

GAME SUMMARY

CANADA EAST OFFENCE EXPLODES IN ROUT OF RUSSIA

O'LEARY, P.E.I. - One night after putting five goals on the board in a shootout loss to the MJAHL all-stars, Canada East exploded for nine more against Russia on Friday, routing the European side 9-1 in the final pre-tournament game for both.

In front a pro-Canadian crowd at the O'Leary Community Sports Centre, Jacob Laliberte (Rockland, Ont./Cornwall, CJHL) picked up a hat trick and two assists and Nick Huard (North Bay, Ont./Woodstock, MJAHL), added to the Canada East roster following Thursday night's game, notched a pair of goals as the Canadians jumped out to a 4-0 first-period lead en route to victory.

Julian Melchiori (Richmond Hill, Ont./Newmarket, CCHL), Greg Carey (Hamilton, Ont./Burlington, CCHL), Jeff Vanderlugt (Richmond Hill, Ont./Aurora, OJAHL) and Sebastien Gingras (Pierrefonds, Que./Brockville, CJHL) also found the back of the net for Canada East, which scored the game's final five goals.

Semen Zherebtsov scored the lone goal for Russia, which arrived in P.E.I. late Thursday after a long cross-Atlantic flight. Kiril Brashkin and Sergey Kostenko split the net duties for the Russians, who were outshot 44-28.

Canada East looks to continue its offensive roll when it opens the tournament against the United States on Sunday night (7 p.m. AT), while Russia will hope to get on track in time for the tournament's first game against Canada West on Sunday afternoon (2 p.m. AT).

CLICK HERE for a full summary.

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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.

CLICK HERE for a full summary.

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MJAHL ALL-STARS HANG ON TO TOP BELARUS

AMHERST, N.S. - The Maritime Junior A Hockey League all-stars completed a two-game sweep of 2009 World Junior A Challenge competition, getting two goals from Stuart Lenehan in a 5-4 win over Belarus at Amherst Stadium on Friday night.

The MJAHL all-stars led 5-2 late in the second period before hanging on to earn their second win in as many nights - they needed nine rounds of a shootout to defeat Canada East 6-5 on Thursday in Truro, N.S.

Dana Fraser added a goal and two assists for the MJAHLers, while Brad Tesink and Nicholas Cyr had a goal and an assist apiece. Andre Guay earned the win between the pipes, turning aside 29 of 33 shots. Despite taking the loss, Belarus outshot the MJAHL all-stars 33-25.

Siarhei Drozd, last year's top goal scorer at the World Junior A Challenge, Dzianis Hrkbko and Aliaksei Sadovik scored goals for Belarus, which fell to 0-2 in pre-tournament play - it squandered a late 2-0 lead to Canada West on Thursday night in Charlottetown, P.E.I., losing 3-2 in a shootout.

The MJAHL all-stars will now return to their club teams to continue regular season play, while Belarus kicks off the 2009 World Junior A Challenge on Monday night against Canada East (7 p.m. AT).

CLICK HERE for a full summary.

Jacob Laliberte led Canada East with 3 goals and 2 assists