HOCKEY CANADA
2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
United States 6 – Slovakia 1
WIN OVER SLOVAKS WRAPS UP SEMIFINAL SPOT FOR U.S.
PORT ALBERNI, BC – One night after a nail-biting win over Quebec, the United States made sure there would no such excitement on Thursday afternoon at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
The 2008 silver medalists booked a spot in Saturday’s semifinals as Emerson Etem scored a pair of goals and set up another in a 6-1 win over Slovakia at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
The Americans also got a pair of goals from Nick Shore and singles from Michael Mersch and Matthew Nieto in wrapping up a final four spot for the third straight World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and seventh time in the last eight.
Matej Bene scored the lone goal for the Slovakians, converting on a shorthanded breakaway early in the first period. The European side, which was outshot 48-13 overall, is winless in three preliminary round games and is in danger of going 0-4 in the prelims for the second year in a row.
The 3-0 Americans will face 3-0 West on Friday night at Oceanside Place in Parksville (7 p.m. PST) in a battle for first place in Group B. Slovakia wraps up its preliminary round schedule with an afternoon contest at the Alberni Valley Multiplex against Finland (2 p.m. PST).
| Game Information/Renseignements sur le match | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Game #/No. de match | 13 | Round/Ronde | Preliminary |
| Arena/Aréna | Alberni Valley Multiplex | Location/Lieu | Port Alberni, B.C., Canada |
| Date | Thurs. Jan. 01, 2009 | Time/Heure | 02:00 PM PT |
| Box Score/Compte | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| SVK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Goals & Penalties/Buts et pénalités |
|---|
| First Period/Première période |
|
Goals/Buts : Penalties/Pénaltés : |
| Second Period/Deuxieme Période |
|
Goals/Buts : Penalties/Pénaltés : |
| Third Period/Troisième Période |
|
Goals/Buts : Penalties/Pénaltés : |
| Goaltenders/Gardien(ne)s de but | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 36 Jack Campbell | On 1/00:00 | Off 3/20:00 |
| SVK | 1 Juraj Simboch | On 1/00:00 | Off 3/20:00 |
| Shots on Goal/Tirs au but | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 18 | 19 | 11 | 48 |
| SVK | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 |
| Players of the Game/Joueur(se) du match | |
|---|---|
| USA | 71 Emerson Etem |
| SVK | 1 Juraj Simboch |
| Officials/Officiels | |
|---|---|
| Referee/Arbitre | Brett Luerson |
| Lines People/Juges de lignes | Ron Diettrrle, Scott Edwards |
