2008-09 National Men's Under-18 Team

STRONG SECOND PACES CANADA TO 5-2 WIN OVER SLOVAKIA

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – It may not have been the start it wanted, but the finish was pretty good for Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team.

For the second time in as many games, the Canadians claimed victory in a pre-tournament game ahead of the 2009 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, using three second-period goals to erase an early 2-0 deficit en route to a 5-2 win over Slovakia on Tuesday night.

Canada found itself in a 2-0 hole with the game just 93 seconds old thanks to an early strike and a power play marker by the Slovakians, but those would be the only pucks to beat Bryce O’Hagan (Burlington, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), who made 18 saves to record the win.

Outshooting the Slovakians 12-9 through 20 minutes, Canada finally hit the scoreboard just past the 13-minute mark of the middle frame as Dylan Olsen blasted a point shot past Slovakian netminder Juraj Holly with his team enjoying a two-man advantage.

It pulled even just 44 seconds later on the same power play, with John McFarland (Richmond Hill, Ont./Sudbury, OHL) getting the equalizer, and Zack Kassian (LaSalle, Ont./Peterborough, OHL) rounded out a big second period for the Canadians by giving them their first lead of the game late in the frame.

Byron Froese (Winkler, Man./Everett, WHL) and Landon Ferraro (Vancouver, B.C./Red Deer, WHL) rounded out the scoring with insurance goals in the third period as Canada finished its pre-tournament schedule with a 2-0 record.

Canada, which outshot Slovakia 40-20, opens defence of its 2008 world championship on Thursday, when it takes on Germany in Fargo, N.D.

Goals/Buts :
00:25 SVK Juraj Majdan (Andrej Stastny)
01:33 SVK Filip Janosik (Peter Hrasko) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités :
00:47 CAN Landon Ferraro (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
06:09 SVK Dominik Kadura (High-sticking/Baton élevé)
12:24 CAN Zack Kassian (Hooking/Accrocher)

Goals/Buts :
12:31 CAN Dylan Olsen (Calvin de Haan, Ryan O’Reilly) PP/AN
13:15 CAN John McFarland (Erik Gudbranson) PP/AN
17:28 CAN Zack Kassian (Ryan O’Reilly)

Penalties/Pénalités :
00:45 SVK Andrej Stastny (Holding/Retenir)
02:54 CAN Byron Froese (Hooking/Accrocher)
07:49 CAN Brett Connolly (Delay of Game/Arrêter le match)
10:43 SVK Michael Vandas (Holding/Retenir)
11:54 SVK Martin Marincin (Holding/Retenir)
15:15 SVK Tomas Stano (Holding/Retenir)

Goals/Buts :
06:21 CAN Byron Froese (Stefan Elliott)
11:36 CAN Landon Ferraro (Joey Hishon) PP/AN

Penalties/Pénalités :
00:30 SVK Martin Marincin (Interference/Obstruction)
09:22 CAN Zack Kassian (Charging/Assaut)
09:22 CAN Zack Kassian (Misconduct/Inconduite)
10:52 SVK Dalibor Bortnak (Holding/Retenir)
13:40 SVK Miroslav Bobocky (Tripping/Faire trébucher)
16:02 CAN Curtis Hamilton (Slashing/Coup de bâton)
17:18 SVK Kristian Grman (Cross-checking/Double-échec)