2013 WJC Semi-Final Results
The 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship continued Thursday with two Semi-Final matchups and one Relegation Round contest:
United States 5 vs. Canada 1
The United States have advanced to the Gold Medal Final at the World Junior Championship for the first time since their 2010 title following a big 5-1 win over Canada.
Canada will aim for a 15th straight medal at the World Juniors and second straight Bronze after defeating Finland last year in Calgary.
USA jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period, and extended the lead to 4-0 after 40 minutes.
Canada got on the board in the third period with a shorthanded goal from St. Louis Blues prospect Ty Rattie (Portland Winterhawks)
Vince Trocheck (Saginaw Spirit) had one assist for the United States, while former Plymouth Whaler J.T Miller recorded two helpers.
John Gibson (Kitchener Rangers) got the win in goal making 33 saves.
Malcolm Subban (Belleville Bulls) started in goal for Canada making 12 save son 16 shots before Jordan Binnington (Owen Sound Attack) made 25 saves on 26 shots in his 27 minutes of work.
Scott Harrington (London Knights) was named Best Player for Canada.
Sweden 3 vs. Russia 2 SO
Sweden will defend gold on Saturday against the United States after defeating the host Team Russia 3-2 in a shootout.
Russia will aim for its third straight medal against Canada in the Bronze Medal contest early on Saturday.
Sweden led 2-0 on a pair of first period goals before Russia scored once in the second, and once in the third period to tie the score.
Overtime was scoreless and the shootout produced just one goal on seven attempts between both sides.
Victor Rask (Calgary Hitmen) picked up an assist for Sweden in the victory.
Mikhail Grigorenko (Quebec Remparts) scored Russia’s second goal assisted by Nikita Kucherov (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies).
Former Windsor Spitfire Alexander Khokhlachev was named Best Player for Russia.
Slovakia 5 vs. Latvia 3
Slovakia avoided relegation following a 5-3 victory over Latvia who remains winless at the World Junior Championship.
Peter Ceresnak (Peterborough Petes) picked up an assist on the game-winner scored at 14:35 of the third period.
Nikita Jevpalovs (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) scored a goal and an assist and was named Latvia’s Best Player.
Edgars Kulda (Edmonton Oil Kings) also scored for Latvia.
The 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship continues Friday with three games including Czech Republic vs. Switzerland for fifth place, Slovakia vs. Finland for seventh place, and Latvia vs. Germany for ninth place.
For more information please visit www.hockeycanada.ca and www.worldjunior2013.com.