Opportunity knocks for WJC hopefuls
(Photo Credit: Paul Bittner – Bryan Heim)
Thursday August 6, 2015
Over 60 CHL players are competing in exhibition action as part of National Junior Team Development Camps for their respective countries this week.
Canada’s National Junior Team Development Camp, featuring exhibition games against Russia and the Czech Republic is taking place at the Markin McPhail Centre in Calgary, AB while the United States National Junior Team Evaluation Camp is happening in Lake Placid, NY where they’ll take on Finland and Sweden.
Learn more about the 39 CHL players attending Canada’s National Junior Team Development Camp
Here are the week’s highlights, with several CHL players contributing and making strong impressions.
Saturday August 8 – UNITED STATES 6 vs. FINLAND 1
Matthew Tkachuk (London Knights) had a goal and an assist while goaltender Brandon Halverson (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) made 16 saves in a 6-1 win over Finland.
Seattle Thunderbirds forward Scott Eansor collected a pair of assists while defenceman Brandon Carlo (Tri-City Americans) registered one as well.
The Americans wrap up the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp with a record of 2-1.
Friday August 7 – SWEDEN 2 vs. FINLAND 0
A goal and an assist from Gustav Bouramman (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) paired with two helpers from Dmytro Timashov (Quebec Remparts) led Sweden to a 2-0 win over Finland in Lake Placid, NY.
The Swedes had a total of nine powerplays in the game that saw them shutout their Scandinavian rivals.
Thursday August 6 – CANADA 6 vs. CZECH REPUBLIC 2
Goals from Olivier LeBlanc (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles), Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors) and Nick Merkley (Kelowna Rockets) staked Canada out to a 3-0 lead after two periods enroute to an eventual 6-2 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday.
Canada outshot the Czechs 38-22 as Brayden Point wrapped up Canada’s schedule with another three points, bringing his total to three goals, five assists and eight points in two contests.
A pair of third period goals from Dylan Strome (Erie Otters), both coming with assists from Mitch Marner (London Knights) would put the game out of reach. Merkley would also add a third period goal to give him two on the game.
Defenceman Jakub Zboril (Czech Republic) provided one of the Czech Republic’s two goals.
Goaltenders Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts) and Samuel Montembeault (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) combined for 20 saves in the victory.
Thursday August 6 – SWEDEN 5 vs. UNITED STATES 2
A goal and an assist from Dmytro Timashov (Quebec Remparts) helped lead Sweden to a 5-2 win over the United States. Defenceman Rasmus Andersson (Barrie Colts) also chipped in with an assist.
The two clubs entered the third period knotted at two before the Swedes buried three goals in the third.
Goaltender Evan Sarthou (Tri-City Americans) made 16 saves in the loss for the United States.
Wednesday August 5 – RUSSIA 3 vs. CANADA 2 SO
With last change in their favour, Russia avenged Monday’s 4-1 loss with a 3-2 shootout victory on Wednesday.
Another slow start for Canada saw them fall behind 2-1 after one, being outshot 11-6 in the first period. Defenceman Aleksandar Mikulovich (Niagara IceDogs) and former IceDogs forward Alexander Protapovich scored for Russia while Spencer Watson (Kingston Frontenacs) responded for Canada.
Blueliner Travis Dermott (Erie Otters) scored the lone second period goal, drawing the score even at two.
Both goaltenders were solid when called upon the rest of the way, with Samuel Montembeault (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) standing tall for Canada and Alexander Georgiev providing some timely saves for Russia.
Overtime solved nothing, inspiring a shootout that saw Marat Khayrullin score the only goal in the third round to give Russia the win.
Josh Ho-Sang (Niagara IceDogs) finished the game with a pair of assists while Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67’s) and Haydn Fleury (Red Deer Rebels) also collected helpers.
Wednesday August 5 – UNITED STATES 5 vs. FINLAND 4 OT
After trimming their roster down to 32 players on Tuesday, the United States embarked on international play with one roster following a series of intrasquad and split squad games.
Wednesday’s result was a positive one with Matthew Tkachuk (London Knights) and Sonny Milano (Flint Firebirds) each scoring goals while Paul Bittner (Portland Winterhawks) and Scott Eansor (Seattle Thunderbirds) provided assists.
Goaltender Brandon Halverson (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) made 32 saves as the Americans were outshot by a margin of two.
Tuesday August 4 – CANADA 7 vs. CZECH REPUBLIC 1
Canada clawed back from a rough first period where they were outshot 14-7 to take a 7-1 victory over the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
Filip Chlapik (Charlottetown Islanders) opened the scoring for the Czechs before Rourke Chartier (Kelowna Rockets) answered back prior to the end of the first period.
Canada exploded for four goals in the second, outshooting the Czechs 16-5 as Jake Virtanen (Calgary Hitmen), Haydn Fleury (Red Deer Rebels), Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors) and Brandon Hickey continued a parade of seven unanswered goals that was capped off by additional markers from Virtanen and Point in the third.
Point finished the night with two goals, three assists and five points while Virtanen had a goal and two helpers. Fleury, Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67’s), Dylan Sadowy (Saginaw Spirit) and Nicolas Aube-Kubel (Val-d’Or Foreurs) also had multi-point games for Canada.
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (Barrie Colts) turned aside 26 of the 27 shots he faced.
Monday August 3 – CANADA 4 vs. RUSSIA 1
Goals from Mitchell Stephens (Saginaw Spirit), Joe Hicketts (Victoria Royals), Spencer Watson (Kingston Frontenacs) and Dylan Strome (Erie Otters) propelled Canada to a 4-1 win over Russia on Monday at the Markin McPhail Centre.
Canada outshot the Russians 27-17 as goaltender Mason McDonald (Charlottetown Islanders) made 16 saves in the victory.
Russia’s lone goal was provided by defenceman Damir Sharipzyanov (Owen Sound Attack).
CLICK HERE FOR CANADA’S NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM SPORT CHEK SUMMER DEVELOPMENT CAMP SCHEDULE
CLICK HERE FOR THE U.S. NATIONAL JUNIOR EVALUATION CAMP SCHEDULE