FIVE-GOAL SECOND PERIOD HELPS EAST TO EXHIBITION WIN IN ALL-CANADIAN BATTLE

VERNON, B.C. ' Evan Rodrigues (Etobicoke, Ont./Georgetown, OJHL) scored twice in afive-goals-on-six-shots-in-9:14 burst in the second period as Canada East opened the World Junior A Challenge exhibition schedule with a 5-2 win over Canada West on Friday night.

After a scoreless first period, Rodrigues got the scoring parade started by snapping a shot under thecrossbar on Canada West goaltender Jameson Shortreed (Emo, Ont./Fort Frances, SIJHL) just 2:01 into the middle frame. Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont./Georgetown, OJHL), Rodrigues, Mitch Zion (Manotick, Ont./Cornwall,CHL) and Phil Hampton (Oakville, Ont./Oakville, OJHL) also beat Shortreed before he was replaced by Matt Krahn (Winnipeg, Man./OCN, MJHL) after giving up five goals on 14 shots. Zach Hyman (Toronto, Ont./Hamilton, OJHL) and Robert Polesello (Bolton, Ont./Vaughan, OJHL) added goals inthe final two minutes of the third period to ice the win for Canada East, which got a measure of revenge on its western rivals for last year's semifinal ' a 9-1 Canada West rout.

Sam Mellor (Cranbrook, B.C./Trail, BCHL) and Madison Dias (Penticton, B.C./Victoria, BCHL), who lost a tooth in a second-period collision with Canada East's Jason Lacroix (Hearst, Ont./Sudbury, NOJHL), scored goals 27 seconds apart in the third period to cut the East lead to 5-2, but those were the only pucks to beat Jordan Ruby (Tavisstock,. Ont./Wellington, OJHL), who made 20 saves to record the win.

Both teams finish up exhibition action on Saturday night; Canada East travels to West Kelowna to face Russia at Royal LePage Place at 7 p.m. PT, while Canada West meets the United States in Penticton in a rematch of the last two gold medal games. Puck drop for the game is 7:30 p.m. PT.