2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

Quebec 3 - Slovakia 2

PÉPIN’S SECOND GOAL IS WINNER AS QUEBEC HOLDS OFF SLOVAKIA

DRUMMONDVILLE, Que. – Alexis Pépin (Candiac, Que./P.E.I., LHJMQ) scored his second goal of the game with 8:46 to go to give Quebec a nail-biting 3-2 win over Slovakia on Tuesday night and keep the French Canadians in the hunt for a semifinal spot at the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

A loss would have eliminated Quebec from semifinal contention; it has only reached the final four once in five tournaments, in 2010, since winning its fourth and latest gold medal in 2006.

Vincent Deslauriers (Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que./Sherbrooke, LHJMQ) had the other goal for Quebec, which looked to be well on its way to victory after one period, up 2-0 and outshooting the winless Slovaks 18-5.

But Matej Palocko scored the lone goal of the second period and Adrian Holesinsky brought the European side even midway through the third period, quieting the pro-Quebec crowd at the Centre Marcel-Dionne.

The tie game, however, lasted just 26 seconds, as Pépin’s goal ensured Quebec’s preliminary round finale against Ontario on Wednesday night in Drummondville (7:30 p.m. ET) will be a winner-take-all affair, with the victor moving on to the semifinals.

Slovak goaltender Maximilian Pajpach stood tall despite the loss, making 37 saves, while his Canadian counterpart, Alex Bureau (Trois-Rivières, Que./Cape Breton, LHJMQ) finished with 25 stops.

Still looking for its first victory, Slovakia will be in tough in its final round robin game on Wednesday afternoon in Drummondville (1:30 p.m. ET) when it takes on the unbeaten United States, which has already clinched a spot in the semifinals.


Game Information/Renseignements sur le match
Game #/No. de match 15
Round/Ronde Preliminary
Arena/Aréna Centre Marcel Dionne Location/Lieu Drummondville, Que.
Date Tues. Jan. 1, 2013
Time/Heure 07:30 PM ET

 

Box Score/Compte 1 2 3 Final
QUE
2
0 1 3
SVK 0
1 1 2

 

Goals & Penalties/Buts et pénalités
First Period/Première période
Goals/Buts :
08:08 QUE 18 Alexis Pépin (8 Alexandre Carrier)
13:28 QUE 22 Vincent Deslauriers (7 Loik Léveillé, 18 Alexis Pépin)

Penalties/Pénaltés :
00:28 QUE 22 Vincent Deslauriers (Tripping)

Second Period/Deuxieme Période
Goals/Buts :
01:55 SVK 16 Matej Palocko

Penalties/Pénaltés :
08:32 QUE 20 Anthony Richard (Roughing After Whistle)
09:41 SVK 17 Patrik Kratochvila (Hooking)
10:36 SVK 25 Filip Kundrat (Roughing)
17:14 SVK 8 Erik Cernak (Roughing After Whistle)

Third Period/Troisième Période
Goals/Buts :
10:48 SVK 23 Adrian Holesinsky (14 Juraj Mily, 15 Marco Halama)
11:14 QUE 18 Alexis Pépin (12 Timothé Simard, 17 Francis Perron)

Penalties/Pénaltés :
00:11 SVK 7 Patrik Maier (Boarding)
03:13 QUE 10 Alexandre Delisle-Houde (Roughing)
16:39 QUE 8 Alexandre Carrier (Cross Checking)
19:22 SVK 25 Filip Kundrat (Charging)

 

Goaltenders/Gardien(ne)s de but
QUE
31 Alex Bureau On 1/00:00 Off 3/20:00
SVK 1 Maximilian Pajpach On 1/00:00 Off 3/20:00

 

Shots on Goal/Tirs au but 1 2 3 Total
QUE
18
12 10 40
SVK 5 9 13 27

 

Players of the Game/Joueur(se) du match
QUE
18 Alexis Pépin
SVK 1 Maximilian Pajpach