Foote lights the lamp as Canada downs Americans in World Juniors opener
Published on December 27, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
Kelowna Rockets captain Nolan Foote
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Marissa Baecker)
Alexis Lafrenière (Saint-Eustache, Que./Rimouski, QMJHL) scored the game-winning goal and added three assists to lead Canada's National Junior Team to a come-from-behind 6-4 victory over the United States in the opening game for both Thursday at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The win ended a four-game losing streak to the U.S., and improved Canada's all-time record against its North American neighbours to 33-11-3 since the first World Juniors in 1977.
Lafrenière picked up three of his four points in the decisive third period, including the game-winner; just seven seconds after Shane Pinto had completed the American comeback from a two-goal deficit, Lafrenière knocked down a D-to-D pass in the U.S. zone and tucked the puck around goaltender Spencer Knight.
He also set up Canadian captain Barrett Hayton (Peterborough, Ont./Arizona, NHL) for both of his power-play goals and earned a helper on the empty-net goal by Ty Dellandrea (Port Perry, Ont./Flint, OHL).
The game was dominated by special teams - six of the 10 goals came on the man advantage.
The U.S. used its power play to take a 2-0 first-period lead; Pinto tipped in a Zac Jones shot just 3:10 in, and Arthur Kaliyev hammered a one-timer past Canadian netminder Nico Daws (Burlington, Ont./Guelph, OHL) late in the opening frame.
The second period belonged to the Canadians, starting with Akil Thomas (Toronto, Ont./Niagara, OHL) setting up Connor McMichael (Ajax, Ont./London, OHL) for the 2-1 goal early in the stanza.
Hayton got his first at 6:34 to tie the game, ripping a one-timer past Knight, and Nolan Foote (Kelowna, B.C./Kelowna, WHL) lasered a wrist shot over the short-side shoulder of the American goaltender on another power play less than seven minutes later to give the Canadians their first lead.
The final 10 minutes of the third period were absolutely crazy, with the teams combining for five goals.
Lafrenière dangled his way to the net before slipping a cross-crease feed to Hayton to make it 4-2 midway through the final frame, but the U.S. was far from finished.
Nick Robertson made it a one-goal game at 12:45, letting go a shot from between the hashmarks that beat Daws upstairs, and he went across the crease for Pinto at 16:42 to draw the Americans even.
But the immediate response from Lafrenière put the Canadians ahead for good, and Dellandrea clinched the three points into the empty net with just 69 seconds left.
Shots on goal finished even, 32-32.
Canada gets back to action Saturday when it takes on Russia (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT).
Images from this story
 Kelowna Rockets captain Nolan Foote (Marissa Baecker) |
Western Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2019
- Raiders Open Second Half with Loss to Blades - Prince Albert Raiders
- Ice Blank Wheat Kings 4-0 - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blades Top Raiders for Fourth Time this Season - Saskatoon Blades
- Hurricanes Eclipse Hitmen in OT - Calgary Hitmen
- Hartje Scores Two in Friday Loss to Pats - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Cossa Shines as Oil Kings Open Second Half with Road Win over Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Hughes Earns Shutout and ICE Blank Wheat Kings 4-0 - Winnipeg Ice
- Blades Top Raiders in Prince Albert for Fourth Time this Season - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Roll to 4-0 Lead through Two, Coast to Win - Regina Pats
- Americans Trade Cikhart to Regina - Tri-City Americans
- Broncos Acquire 6'6" Cole Nagy from Prince Albert - Swift Current Broncos
- Game 34 at Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Pats Acquire Czech Forward Jan Cikhart from Tri-City - Regina Pats
- Raiders Acquire Culling from Broncos - Prince Albert Raiders
- A Holiday Test in the Wheat City - Winnipeg Ice
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, December 27 at Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Preview: Blades Resume Action in Prince Albert against Raiders - Saskatoon Blades
- Game Day Preview: Pats Return from Xmas Break to Visit Moose Jaw Friday - Regina Pats
- Game Day Hub: December 27 - Portland Winterhawks
- Foote lights the lamp as Canada downs Americans in World Juniors opener - Kelowna Rockets
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
