WEST CRACKS WIN COLUMN WITH VICTORY OVER CZECHS

by Adam Campbell

WINNIPEG, Man. – With the clock counting down on 2010 so too is it counting down on the Czech Republic’s chances at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge after a 5-2 loss to West on Friday night at the MTS Iceplex.

A dominant first period, one that saw it grab a 2-0 lead, outshoot the Czechs 16-5 and chase Czech goaltender David Gaba from the net, was the difference for West as it earned win No. 1 while all by ending the Czechs’ hopes of playing in Monday’s semifinals.

A power play goal by Chandler Stephenson opened the scoring for West five minutes into the first period, and another man advantage goal, this time from Brendan Leipsic, doubled the lead in front of a sold-out, pro-West crowd.

Gaba got the hook after Leipsic’s goal, with the shots 6-0 in favour of the Canadian side.

The Czechs pushed back with a breakaway goal from Patrik Machac less than a minute into the second period, but West answered with its third power play goal, from Brayden Cuthbert, midway through the frame.

In total, West was 3-for-6 on the man advantage, while the Czechs finished with one goal in four chances.

Another late offensive push by the Czechs saw them pull close to West on the shot clock, but only Dominik Volek could beat West netminder Chris Dreidger.

Brett Stovin and Logan McVeigh added third-period goals for West, which faces a must-win when it takes on Ontario on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. CT). The Czechs also hit the ice Saturday, meeting Slovakia in Portage la Prairie (3 p.m. CT)