World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Recap
Published on November 6, 2014 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brampton Steelheads News Release
With the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge fully under way in Sarnia and Lambton Shores, three Mississauga Steelheads look to leave their marks on the international stage with Team Canada Red and White.
Sean Day (Team Red), Michael McLeod (Team Red), and Nicolas Hague (Team White) will square up against the world's best 16 year old players. They have their eyes set on bringing medals home to end Team Canada's three year gold medal drought.
The tournament kicked off on November 2nd with Nicolas Hague and Team Canada White squaring off against Team Finland in a Group A showdown. The game started off very tight with a 1-1 tie at the end of the first period, but a rough second period would prove to be the difference as Team Finland pulled away with a 5-1 victory.
Later on in the day it was Sean Day and Michael McLeod's turn as Team Canada Red took on Team Slovakia. The game soon became a lopsided affair as Canada Red took a commanding 4-0 lead after the first period. Michael McLeod got his first point of the tournament as he helped set up the team's fourth goal of the game by Miguel Picard (Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL). Canada Red would cruise to a 6-0 victory outshooting Slovakia 45-14.
Day 2 saw two of the Canadian teams play each other as Team Canada White took on Team Canada Black. The game was one of the closest of the tournament as both teams went back and forth scoring 4 goals each to force overtime. It would be Nicolas Hague that would take home the victory for Canada White, as his one-timer from teammate Brett Howden (Moose Jaw, WHL) beat Canada Black's Reilly Pickard (Baie-Comeau, QMJHL) glove side off the post and in.
Day and McLeod had another day of success with Team Canada Red on Day 2 as they defeated Team Sweden by a score of 4-2. Canada Red had another strong first period start as they took an early 3-1 lead and never looked back. Sean Day was a major contributor for Canada Red as he recorded his first 2 points of the tournament. He was a key contributor to Canada Red's hot start as he picked up 2 assists on the team's first goal, scored by Logan Brown (Windsor, OHL) and third goal, scored by Jake Kryski (Kamloops, WHL).
Day 3 saw new chapters of classic hockey rivalries being written as Team Canada White took on Team Russia, while Team Canada Red took on Team United States. Canada White suffered an early 1-0 deficit after Russia scored 25 seconds into the opening period. Canada White would prove to be resilient and would overcome the early Russian lead to finish the close contest with a 4-2 victory. Nicolas Hague would continue to put his goal scoring abilities on full display as he blasted his second goal of the tournament. His goal was a crucial one as it gave Canada White a 2-1 lead over Russia in the middle of the first period, a lead which Canada White never gave up for the rest of the game. With the win Canada White passed Russia for second place in Group A going into the tournament's quarter-finals.
The match between Team Canada Red and Team United States saw a clash between the two remaining undefeated teams at the U-17 tournament. The United States started strong and wouldn't look back as they took a commanding 4-0 lead after the first period leading them to a 7-3 victory over Canada. Like Team Canada White, they finish the preliminary round in second place in group B heading into the quarter-finals.
There was a break in the tournament on Wednesday as teams prepare themselves for the quarter-finals. Thursday will be a double header of Steelheads players in action as Sean Day, Michael McLeod and Team Canada Red will take on Team Russia at 7:00 pm, while Nicolas Hague and Team Canada White square off against Team Sweden at 7:00 pm.
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