AMERICANS TOP GROUP A AFTER WIN OVER QUEBEC

by Adam Campbell

WINNIPEG, Man. – The United States has clinched first place in Group B at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge after a convincing 5-2 win over Quebec in a battle of the group’s last two undefeated teams on Sunday afternoon at the MTS Iceplex.

The win, the Americans’ 12th in a row in preliminary round play at the tournament, means they’ll play the loser of Sunday’s late game in Portage between Ontario and Pacific in Monday’s early semifinal (3 p.m. CT), while Quebec will face the winner of that game in the late semi (7:30 p.m. CT).

Quebec captain Charles Simard-Hudon opened the scoring seven minutes into the first period on a two-man advantage, but the celebration was short-lived as Ryan Hartman scored a shorthanded goal for the Americans just 30 seconds later.

Seth Jones – son of former NBA player Popeye Jones – added a power play goal and Miles Koules scoredaswellas the U.S. had a 3-1 lead after one period, outshooting Quebec 14-3.

The Americans continued their dominance in the second period with goals from Stefan Matteau – son of former NHLer Stephane Matteau – and Thomas Di Pauli. The game was a special one for Matteau, who was playing against the team his father helped lead to gold 25 years ago in the first-ever World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, known then as the Quebec Cup.

“It was a special goal,” said Matteau, a member of the 2010 TELUS Cup champion Notre Dame Hounds.“My dad told me a lot of stories about playing at the challenge and it’s great to get a chance to play here.”

Quebec pushed back in the third, outshooting the Americans 14-10. However, it was too little, too late for a Quebec team that was outmuscled and outplayed for most of 60 minutes.

Hudon’s second goal of the game was the only goal of the final 20 minutes.