CASEY COLLECTS PAIR IN HUGE ONTARIO WIN

London, ON – The fist pump said it all. This was an important goal.

Casey Cizikas (Mississauga, ON/Mississauga, OHL) scored a wrap-around goal at 15:28 of the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie and giving Ontario a huge 3-2 lead en route to a 4-2 win over Quebec at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Cizikas took the puck behind the net and slid it into the net just ahead of sprawling Quebec goaltender Olivier Bellavance-Roy. The goal sent the pro-Ontario crowd to its feet and moved Ontario into the semi-finals.

Ontario will finish first in Pool A.

Quebec opened the scoring when Mathieu Gingras (Ile Bazard, QC/Lac St-Louis, midget) found the back of the net at 9:44 of the first period.

It stayed 1-0 Quebec until the eight-minute mark of the second period. Taylor Beck (Niagara Falls, ON/Guelph, OHL) streaked down the right wing and snapped a shot past Roy to make it 1-1.

Team Ontario’s Joey Hishon (Stratford, ON/Owen Sound, OHL) broke a 1-1 tie at 5:43 of the third period to give his team the lead.

Ontario seemed to be in control until Quebec’s David Gilbert (Ste-Julie, QC/Antoine, midget AAA) drew a penalty shot at 10:53 of the third. Gilbert went in on Ontario’s Michael Zador (Toronto, ON/London, OHL) and beat him with a deke to the forehand.

But Ontario wouldn’t be denied, thanks in large part to the work of Cizikas.