EAST TOPS WEST IN ALL-CANADIAN WJAC EXHIBITION ACTION

VIKING, AB – Zach Hervato (Stittsville, ON/Smiths Falls, CJHL) scored his second goal of the game with 7:05 to go in the third period, leading Canada East to a 4-2 win over Canada West in the final pre-World Junior A Challenge game for both on Friday night.

The win was the first for Canada East over their western rivals – Canada West had claimed the previous two meetings, both in the gold medal game at the World Junior A Challenge.

After the teams traded first-period powerplay goals – Brodie Reid (Delta, BC/Burnaby, BCHL) scored for Canada West, while Hervato replied for Canada East – Brandon Pirri (Toronto, ON/Streetsville, OJHL) and Matt Grassi (Burnaby, BC/Salmon Arm, BCHL) swapped goals in the middle frame to keep the game tied after 40 minutes.

Canada East dominated the third period, outshooting Canada West 14-4, and was rewarded when Hervato beat Canada West goaltender Andrew Bodnarchuk (Saskatoon, SK/Humboldt, SJHL) on the backhand.

Stephen Horyl (Sydney, NS/Truro, MJAHL) rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal with just 11 seconds left on the clock.

Shawn Sirman (Blezard Valley, ON/Kingston, OJHL) turned away 17 of the 18 shots he faced in his 30 minutes of work, while Andrew Hare (Burlington, ON/Burlington, OJHL) picked up the win with eight saves in his half-game of action. Bodnarchuk (15 saves) and Kevin Genoe (Qualicum Beach, BC/Prince George, BCHL) (nine) split the duties in a losing cause for Canada West.

Prior to the game, Canada West announced that defenceman Michael Young (Calgary, AB/Flin Flon, SJHL) and forward Derek Rodwell (Taber, AB/Okotoks, AJHL) would be unable to take part in the 2008 World Junior A Challenge after suffering injuries during training camp.

Defenceman Wade Epp (Chilliwack, BC/Drumheller, AJHL) will join the team, replacing Young.

Canada West opens its quest for a third-straight gold medal on Sunday night when it faces Belarus in Camrose (6 p.m. MST), while Canada East takes to the ice at the Edgeworth Centre on Monday afternoon, facing Germany at 4 p.m. MST.