DOMI SCORES TWO IN THIRD AS ONTARIO COMES BACK TO WIN BRONZE

WINDSOR, Ont. – Max Domi (Toronto, Ont./London, OHL) scored twice in the third period, part of a four-goal explosion by Ontario in the final 20 minutes, as the two-time defending gold medallists settled for bronze at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with a 5-2 win over Sweden on Wednesday afternoon.

It’s the first time since the 2002 tournament in Selkirk, Man., that Ontario has taken home the bronze medal, while Sweden was denied an opportunity to win bronze in back-to-back appearances; it finished third in 2010 in Timmins, Ont.

After a scoreless first period, the teams struck for three goals in just under six minutes midway through the second.

Leon Bristedt got the scoring started for the Swedes, snapping a shot off the post and in past Ontario netminder Spencer Martin (Oakville, Ont./Mississauga St. Michael’s, OHL), but captain Bo Horvat (Rodney, Ont./London, OHL) got the Canadian side even less than four minutes later, keeping on a two-on-one and beating Jonas Johansson.

Bristedt capped the second period with his second of the frame, ripping a one-timer from the hash marks past Martin for a 2-1 Swedish lead after 40 minutes.

Just 20 minutes from seeing its consecutive medal streak end at four, Ontario tied it up just 20 seconds into the third period off the stick of Jordan Subban (Toronto, Ont./Belleville, OHL), and took its first lead when Nick Baptiste (Ottawa, Ont./Sudbury, OHL) scored shorthanded at 2:02.

Domi added to the Ontario lead on a power play just shy of the eight-minute mark of the third, going upstairs on Ebbe Siönäs, who had replaced Johansson early in the final period, and rounded out the scoring by sliding one five-hole on the Swedish goaltender with the teams at four-on-four.

The Ontario win ensured at least one Canadian team took home a medal from the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge for the 20^th consecutive tournament; every U17 event since its inception in 1986 has featured red and white on the podium.