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January 4, 2010
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TIMMINS, Ont. – For the first time since 2002, the United States has won the World Under-17 Hockey
Challenge, defeating Ontario 2-1 on Monday night in front of more than 2,000 fans at McIntyre Arena, ending
Ontario’s two-year grasp on the U17 gold medal.
Reid Boucher and Tyler Biggs scored the goals for the U.S., which adds the 2010 gold to ones it won in
2001 and 2002. It had lost two-consecutive gold medal games – in 2006 and 2008 – before winning on Monday.
The Americans are the third straight team to go 6-0 and win gold, joining the Ontario teams of 2008 and
2009.
Daniel Catenacci scored the lone goal for Ontario, which was denied the opportunity to become the first
team to ever win three-consecutive U17 gold medals at full-field, 10-team events.
After a scoreless opening period dominated by goaltenders Tyson Teichmann of Ontario and John Gibson of
the United States, Boucher got the U.S. on board just 1:51 into the second period by snapping a shot past
Teichmann. Biggs made it 2-0 in the first minute of the third and Catenacci rounded out the scoring and
ruined Gibson’s shutout bid by scoring with one second remaining.
Monday’s game marked the second time in three years the teams met for U17 gold. Ontario had the upper hand
in the first meeting, winning 3-0 at the 2008 tournament in front of a World Under-17 Hockey Challenge-record
8,889 fans at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ont.
Earlier Monday, Sweden claimed bronze in its return to the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with a 5-2 win
over Russia. Thirteen years after taking silver in Alberta, the Swedes jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third
period before the Russians scored two goals late. Pontus Åberg, Joachim Nermark, Jeremy Boyce, Johan
Porsberger and Emil Lundberg had the goals for the Swedes, who outshot Russia 46-19. Mikhail Grigorenko and
Alexander Khokhlachev scored the Russian goals.
Following the gold medal game, the tournament all-star team was announced. Choices for the all-star team
were based on round-robin performance.
2010 WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE ALL-STAR TEAM
Goal – Robin Gusse (Quebec)
Defence – Scott Harrington (Ontario)
Defence – Reece Scarlett (Pacific)
Forward – Joel Armia (Finland)
Forward – Rocco Grimaldi (United States)
Forward – Alexander Khokhlachev (Russia)
The 2011 and 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenges will be held in Winnipeg, Man.
For more information on the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, visit www.hockeycanada.ca/wu17.
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