CANADA WEST ON TRACK IN TITLE DEFENCE

Canada West, the defending World Junior A Challenge champions, made it’s debut a memorable on Tuesday evening in Trail, with forward Mike Connelly leading the way. The AJHL star registered four points, on two goals and two assists, as Canada West got off to a great start in it’s quest for a second straight title.

Zac Dalpe (Paris, ON/ Penticton, BCHL) staked Canada West to a 2-0 lead with two first period goals, including to a power play goal. Germany tallied it’s own power play marker to make the score 2-1. Team captain Soren Sturm’s shot from the point beat a screened Brad Eidsness. But Joe Colborne (Calgary, AB/ Camrose, AJHL) put Canada West back in front to make it 3-1 after the first.

It was all Canada West in the middle frame. Mike Connelly (Calgary, AB/ Camrose, AJHL), Andrew Cherniwchan (Hinton, AB/ Drayton Valley, AJHL) and Brett Hextall (Penticton, BCHL) added singles as the home side dominated in front of enthusiastic full house in Trail to take a 6-1 lead into the final period.

Connelly added to his impressive evening in the third period, with a pretty breakaway goal, deking and beating German goaltender Etienne Renkewitz with ease. Germany got a late goal from Alexander Oblinger to make the final 7-2 for Canada West.

"I think that one of the big things for us is that we have been getting better every day," said head coach Boris Rybalka. "When we got off that plane on Tuesday, nobody knew anybody. The exhibition games are there for a reason. Today was the real thing. There were 22 canadians out there really proud to be wearing the maple leaf on their chests. The coaching staff and players and we'll be ready for tomorrow."

The round robin comes to an end on Wednesday evening at the World Junior A Challenge, with automatics berths in the semi-finals at stake. Canada West and Russia, both at 1-0, face off in Trail, while USA faces Canada East in Nelson.