TRAIL, BC – Canada East and Canada West have advanced to the World Junior A Challenge semi-finals after winning their respective quarter-final games on Thursday evening, Hockey Canada and the CJAHL announced.

In Trail, Casey Pierro-Zabotel (Kamloops, BC/ Merritt, BCHL) registered a hat trick as Canada West set aside Belarus 7-3.

In Nelson, Canada East came from behind with four third period goals to hand Germany a 4-1 defeat. Mike McLaughlin (Seaforth, ON/Aurora, OPJHL), Wes Consorti (Brantford, ON/ Hamilton, OPJHL), Jeremy Franklin (Bath, ON/ Wellington, OPJHL) and Louke Oakley (Whitby, ON/ Bowmanville, OPJHL) erased a 1-0 lead for Germany.

Semi-final match-ups and for the 5th place game are now set for Saturday night in Trail and Nelson.

Semi-final schedule – Saturday, November 10th

2:00 pm 5th place Belarus vs. Germany Trail, BC

7:30 pm Semi-final Russia vs. Canada East Trail, BC webcast at www.hockeycanada.ca

7:30 pm Semi-final USA vs. Canada West Nelson, BC

Final schedule – Sunday, November 11th

2:00 pm Bronze medal game Trail, BC

The World Junior A Challenge is a presentation of Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL).

The 2007 World Junior A Challenge runs through November 11th in Trail and Nelson, BC. Some tickets are available for remaining games.

The gold medal game will be broadcast on tape delay on TSN/RDS, the official broadcaster of Hockey Canada. Check your local listings for broadcast times in your area. The semi-final game on November 10th between Russia and Canada East will be available via webcast live from Trail, BC at www.hockeycanada.ca