Canada 3 Slovakia 1

IIHF World U-18 Hockey Championship
April 15, 2004
Minsk, BLR

Kyle Chipchura of the Prince Albert Raiders scored two power-play goals Thursday as defending champion Canada advanced to the semifinals of the world under-18 hockey championship with a 3-1 win over Slovakia.

Canada, which improved its record at the tournament to 4-1, will play Russia in the semifinals Friday. In the other semifinal, the U.S. will play either the Czech Republic or Sweden.

"They're probably the best team here," Canadian head coach Dean Chynoweth said of Russia. "They're the favourite to win the gold. They're extremely talented, they have a lot of depth up front with their forwards. It's going to be tough.'

The Canadians have not played Russia at the tournament but Chynoweth has been scouting the team.

``I saw them play the Czechs and I'm familiar with a few of their players who played in the world junior tournament,' he said.

Evan McGrath of the Kitchener Rangers scored the insurance goal and addded an assist for Canada while Devan Dubnyk of the Kamloops Blazers got the win in goal.

``He's given a chance to win every game and has been the difference in some of the games,' Chynoweth said of Dubnyk. ``He's given us the winning goaltending that we need.'

Roman Tomanek scored the lone goal for Slovakia with a shot to the top right corner. The Slovaks will now play either the Czech Republic or Sweden in the fifth-place game.

Chipchura, the top-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, opened the scoring at 8:44 of the first period when he took a pass from Ryan Garlock of the Windsor Spitfires and beat Slovak goalie Michal Valent from close range.

Chipchura, assisted by defenceman Jonathan Sigalet, made it 2-0 on another power play with 3:39 left in the first period.

Chynoweth made some changes on the power play Thursday, moving Chipchura back to the point. The strategy obviously paid off with two goals scored with the man-advantage.

Canada's lone loss was a 2-1 defeat by the U.S. on Tuesday.

Box Score	CAN	2	0	1	3
Compte	SVK	0	1	0	1

First Period/Première période

Scoring/Buts:
16.21 2 - 0 PP1 Canada 17. CHIPCHURA, Kyle GWG (8. SIGALET, Jonathan)
08.44 1 - 0 PP2 Canada 17. CHIPCHURA, Kyle (19. McGRATH, Evan) (14. GARLOCK, Ryan)

Penalties/Pénalités:
15.08 2 min Slovakia 3. SEKERA, Andrej Tripping
11.15 2 min Canada 30. DUBNYK, Devan Delaying the game
10.31 2 min Canada 14. GARLOCK, Ryan Elbowing
07.47 2 min Slovakia 20. SCURKO, Ladislav Hooking
06.57 2 min Slovakia 27. VALABIK, Boris Slashing
04.41 2 min Canada 21. BERTI, Adam Roughing

Second Period/Deuxième période

Scoring/Buts:
31.22 2 - 1 EQ Slovakia 16. TOMANEK, Roman (21. ZAGRAPAN, Marek)

Penalties/Pénalités:
36.01 2 min Slovakia 27. VALABIK, Boris Checking to the head
36.01 10 min Slovakia 27. VALABIK, Boris Misconduct
32.37 2 min Canada 5. ROGERS, Andy Cross-checking
28.22 2 min Slovakia 27. VALABIK, Boris Roughing
23.59 2 min Slovakia 24. CHMELO, Lubomir Holding the stick
23.59 2 min Canada 17. CHIPCHURA, Kyle Hooking
22.26 2 min Canada 15. BYERS, Dane Charging

Third Period/Troisième période

Scoring/Buts:
44.44 3 - 1 EQ Canada 19. McGRATH, Evan (15. BYERS, Dane)

Penalties/Pénalités:
59.07 2 min Slovakia TEAM PENALTY Too many players on the ice
55.49 2 min Canada 22. CABANA, Frederik Interference
50.23 2 min Canada 29. GAGNON, Aaron Tripping
47.45 2 min Slovakia 5. HUBA, Peter Interference
41.33 2 min Canada 20. HUNTER, Eric Hooking
41.33 2 min Slovakia 16. TOMANEK, Roman Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Goaltenders	CAN	DUBNYK, Devan
Gardiennes de but	SVK	VALENT, Michal

Shots on Goal	Team	1 p	2 p	3 p	Final
Shots on Goal	CAN	10	5	6	21
Tirs au but	SVK	7	17	10	34

Referee/Arbitre	MINAR Milan
Linesmen/Juges des lignes	KARLBERG Anders, ROSS Joseph

Attendance/Assistance	3200