AMERICANS NEED COMEBACK TO TOP QUEBEC

PORT ALBERNI, BC – After a blowout win in its tournament opener, the United States got its first test of the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge on Wednesday night.

Jason Zucker scored shorthanded with 7:41 to go to complete the Americans’ third-period comeback from two goals down and top Quebec 4-3 at the Alberni Valley Multiplex, moving into a tie atop Group B with Pacific at 2-0.

Brandon Saad, Adam Glendining and Kevin Clare also scored for the U.S., who was outshot 43-34 by Quebec but got 40 saves from Will Yanakeff between the pipes to record the win.

Quebec, which fell to 1-2 and saw its semifinal hopes all but dashed, got goals from Gabriel Desjardins, Cédrick Henley and Stefan Fournier. The Canadian side lost for just the third time in its last seven U17 games against the Americans.

Quebec will hit the ice for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday when it travels to Courtenay to face Finland (7 p.m. PST), while the Americans will look to stay undefeated when they face Slovakia in Port Alberni (2 p.m. PST).