PACIFIC DOMINATES BATTLE OF THE COASTS

By Keith Borkowsky

REGINA – Pacific continued its domination in Pool B, with an 11-6 win over Atlantic at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Friday.

But despite outscoring its opponents 16-7 in its two wins so far, Pacific assistant captain Kyle Turris said now is not the time for overconfidence.

“It’s just one game. We can’t get ahead of ourselves,” Turris said. “(The wins) give us a lot of confidence. It definitely helps us out. Everyone is happy in the dressing room.”

Team Pacific’s total domination of the offensive zone gave them a 5-1 lead after 20 minutes. Tyler Ennis tapped in a goalmouth pass from Prabh Rai for the first goal. Turris cashed in a pass from Colton Gillies for the second goal, giving Pacific a 2-0 lead before the game was 10 minutes old.

Atlantic got on the board when Matthew Brenton fooled Pacific goalie Scott Orth at the 12:38 mark, but that was it’s lone highlight in the opening frame.

Dustin Sylvester found some open ice atop the face-off circle and fired an unassisted goal for a 3-1 Pacific lead. Goals from Nick Ross and Colton Grant padded Pacific’s first-period lead.

The tidal wave didn’t stop for Pacific in the second period, where Matthew Hallick, Ryan Kerr, Ennis and Turris shoveled in another four goals, and took a 9-2 lead into the intermission. Logan MacMillan responded for Atlantic.

Kerr and Sylvester earned their second goals of the night in the third period, but a late Atlantic comeback took some of the attention away from them. Ben MacAskill, Scott Jenks and Colin Escott scored unanswered goals for Atlantic, while Alex Grant also scored early in the final period.

Atlantic general manager Troy Ryan said those goals meant a lot to the team’s momentum despite the loss.

“Momentum in a tournament like this is very important. You don’t get momentum from winning this game or getting two points, but I think there is a moral victory in this, so to speak,” Ryan said. “If we can get an opportunity to build on the successes from the third period, I think we can carry it into the next game.”

Pacific (2-0) faces off with the Czech Republic (1-0-1) in Saturday’s 1 p.m. game at the Brandt Centre. Atlantic (0-1) plays Germany (0-1) in Saturday’s 5 p.m. game at the Brandt Centre.