NAHL U.S. National Team

Canada Wins Classic World Junior Championship Game Over Team USA, 3-2

Published on December 31, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
U.S. National Team News Release


VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Canada scored into an empty net with :33 left to secure a 3-2 win over the United States before 16,083 at the Pacific Coliseum in the final preliminary round game for both teams at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

With both teams knowing going into the game that they'd advanced to the tournament's championship round and the U.S. further knowing it needed a win to advance directly to the semifinals, U.S. Head Coach Walt Kyle pulled netminder Cory Schneider (Marblehead, Mass.) in the final minute of play with the score knotted at two. Canada's Kyle Chipchura foiled Team USA's chances for the win as he gently guided the puck into an open net at 19: 27 for the winner.

"I'm really proud of our guys," said U.S. Head Coach Walt Kyle. "It was a heckuva hockey game. We got down early by a couple of goals in a very tough environment and I give our leadership credit. We got settled down and came back to tie the game. Because of our tie against the Swiss last night, we were forced to go for the win to get the bye."

Canada finished the first stanza with a 2-1 lead. The hosts started quickly, scoring twice in the first seven minutes. Cameron Barker's power play shot from the left point through traffic found its way past U.S. netminder Cory Schneider (Marblehead, Mass.) at 2:35 for a 1-0 Canada lead. The second Canada goal was set up after the linesman inadvertently tripped Chris Bourque (Boston, Mass.) and sent Canada away on a two-on-one break. Dustin Boyd converted for a 2-0 lead at 6:42. Team USA got back one back at 10:27 with Bourque's tournament-leading sixth goal on a power play shot from the right point. Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis.) drew the lone assist on the play, his eighth of the tournament.

The U.S. got the only goal of the second period to even the game at two after 40 minutes. The play started with a long pass from Erik Johnson (Bloomington, Minn.) out of his own end. Tom Fritsche (Parma, Ohio) re-directed the puck to send Peter Mueller (Bloomington, Minn.) in alone and Mueller beat Canada netminder Justin Pogge low on the glove side at 8:10. The U.S. hit two posts in the period, both off the stick of Jack Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.).

Schneider finished with 23 saves, while Pogge had 22 stops.

Team USA will play in the quarterfinal round on Monday (Jan. 2) against likely the Czech Republic. Game time is set for 4 p.m. (PST) at GM Place.

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2005


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