ATLANTIC TO PLAY FOR FIFTH AFTER WIN OVER GERMANY

by Alyssa McDonald

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – Six unanswered goals were the difference for Atlantic as it earned a 7-2 win over Germany on Sunday afternoon in the final preliminary round game for both at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

The win clinches third place in Group A for Atlantic and means it will play in the fifth-place game at the PCU Centre on Monday night (7:30 p.m. CT).

Stephen Anderson scored the game’s first goal just shy of the midway mark of the opening period, one that stood up until Frederik Tiffels tied it for the Germans just 53 seconds into the period.

The floodgates opened for Atlantic after that, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring a pair and Andrew Ryan adding one of his own to make to a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Despite being outshot 14-11 in the third period, Atlantic added goals from Brett Malone, Brandon Pye and Liam O'Brien for a 7-1 lead before Germany’s Sven Ziegler rounded out the scoring with five minutes remaining.

Atlantic goaltender Brandon Whitney made 30 saves to earn the win and Player of the Game honours.

The loss leaves the Germans without a win at 0-4 and sends them to Monday afternoon’s ninth-place game in Portage la Prairie (3 p.m. CT).