ONTARIO PROTECTS PERFECT RECORD, CLINCHES SEMIFINAL BERTH WITH WIN

by Andrew Parker

WINNIPEG, Man. – Matia Marcantuoni scored the game-winning goal on a power play early in the third period as Ontario survived a late push from to West to earn a 4-3 win on Saturday night, clinching a spot in the semifinals at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The win also clinched a final four spot for idle Pacific, which sits tied with Ontario atop Group B at 3-0.The two teams meet Sunday (7:30 p.m. CT) with first place on the line.

The fans didn’t have to wait long for action as Brody Silk slipped the puck past West goaltender Chris Dreidger on Ontario’s first offensive rush, just 15 seconds after the opening face-off. Chandler Stevenson was able to answer back for West, roofing one past Ontario netminder Daniel Altshuller to tie the game at 8:27.

West’s Jaimen Yakubowski put his team a man down for five minutes, taking a checking from behind major just past the midway point of the first, but it was the West special teams that scored, as Stevenson notched his second of the period shorthanded.

Ontario made its comeback in the second period, getting goals from Andreas Athanasiou and Jesse Grahamtotake a 3-2 advantage into the third period.

Marcantuoni, Ontario’s captain, made it a two-goal game with a power play goal just 84 seconds into the third period – one of four Ontario man advantages in the frame – quieting the pro-West crowd at the sold-out MTS Iceplex.

Logan McVeigh gave West hope, scoring with six seconds left, but West’s final frantic push came up short, officially eliminating them from medal round contention.

West looks to wrap up third place in Group B when it faces Slovakia in its preliminary round finale on Sunday night (7:30 p.m. CT).