Canada's National Junior Team Advances to Semifinals at 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship

EDMONTON, Alta. – Canada’s National Junior Team has advanced to the semifinals at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship after finishing in first place in Group B with a perfect 4-0 record.

Canada concluded the preliminary round Saturday night with a 3-2 win over the United States.

Mark Stone (Winnipeg, Man./Brandon, WHL), Jaden Schwartz (Wilcox, Sask./Colorado College, WCHA) and Brett Connolly (Prince George, B.C./Tampa Bay, NHL) staked Canada to a 3-0 first period lead. The Americans scored a pair of goals in the third period, but Canada, backstopped by 30 saves from Scott Wedgewood (Brampton, Ont./Plymouth, OHL), held on for the victory.

Canada will face the winner of the Russia-Czech Republic quarter-final in its semifinal, scheduled for 7 p.m. MT on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at the Saddledome in Calgary. The Russia-Czech Republic game will be played at the Saddledome at 7 p.m. MT on Monday, Jan. 2.

In Group A, Sweden finished first, advancing directly to the other semifinal with a 3-2 overtime win over Russia. Sweden will next face the winner of the Finland-Slovakia quarter-final, which will be played at 3 p.m. MT on Monday, Jan. 2 at the Saddledome. Sweden’s semifinal will be played at 3 p.m. MT on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

All of Canada’s games at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship will be broadcast live on TSN/RDS across Canada, as well as on The FAN Radio Network. Check your local listings for broadcast details in your area, and for a broadcast schedule.

For more information on the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit www.HockeyCanada.ca/2012juniors, or follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/worldjuniors and www.twitter.com/hc_wjc.