2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

ANG SCORES WINNER, CANADA WHITE FINISHES PRELIMINARY ROUND WITH WIN

MORGAN BELL

SARNIA, Ont. – Jonathan Ang (Markham, Ont./Peterborough, OHL) scored the game-winning goal early in the second period, and Canada White made it two wins in a row with a 4-2 victory over Russia on Tuesday night at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

With the win, Canada White finishes second in Group A and will take on Sweden in Thursday’s late quarter-final at the RBC Centre in Sarnia (7 p.m. ET). The Russians, meanwhile, finished the preliminary round in third place and will meet Canada Red on Thursday at The Shores Recreation Centre (7 p.m. ET).

The Russians jumped out to a very early lead; Vitali Abramov scored on the power play just 25 seconds after the puck dropped, and 20 seconds after Ang was called for tripping off the opening face-off.

Luke Green (Bedford, N.S./Saint John, QMJHL) answered for Canada Red midway through the opening period, banging in a Travis Barron (Caledon, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) rebound, and Nicolas Hague (Kitchener,
Ont./Kitchener, GOJHL) hammered in his second goal in as many games just 33 seconds later.

After outshooting Russia 12-6 in the first period, the Canadians continued their offensive push in the second; Ang went five-hole on Vladislav Sukhachyov on the power play at 4:18, chasing the Russian netminder.

Quenneville added an insurance goal before the end of the middle frame, sneaking a wrist shot past Maxim Kalyayev with less than five minutes to go for a three-goal advantage.

The third period was all about Canadian goaltender Samuel Harvey (Alma, Que./Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL), who made 13 of his 25 saves in the final 20 minutes, although Abramov roofed a backhand on a Russian power play with 4:31 left to wrap up the scoring.

Overall, Russia had a 27-24 advantage in shots on goal.

Both teams were successful on the power play; Canada Red scored once in five opportunities, while both Russian goals came with the man advantage, on four chances.