CANADIAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Media Update
Release date: Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016
Canada East off to WJAC final after thrilling OT triumph over Czech Republic
BONNYVILLE, Alta. – A Lucas Thierus (Panthères de St-Jérôme, LHJQ) goal 2:18 into overtime was the difference as Canada East earned a berth in the championship game at the World Junior A Challenge in Bonnyville, Alta., after edging the Czech Republic 2-1 in dramatic fashion in semifinal action Thursday evening.
With the result, Canada East will now meet the U.S. in the gold/silver game Saturday at 5 p.m. MT while the Czechs will take on Russia in the bronze medal contest Friday at 7:30 p.m. MT.
Canada West squares off with Switzerland in the fifth place match-up Friday at 3:30 p.m. MT.
The U.S. defeated the Russians 4-2 in their semifinal earlier in the day to earn their place in the final.
In the Canada East – Czech Republic affair, it was a battle of the goaltenders throughout much of regulation as the tightly-played contest was scoreless well into the third period.
The East opened the scoring at 11:36 of the frame as Vincent Chapleau (Collège Français de Longueuil, LHJQ) beat Petr Kvaca to put his side in front.
Then late in regulation and with their goaltender on the bench in favour of an extra attacker, the Czechs forced extra time as Kristian Reichel’s effort eluded Stefano Cantali (Collège Français de Longueuil, LHJQ) with 1:47 left.
Heading to OT, it was Thierus who was the Canada East hero as after a stop by Cantali, the puck was pushed up to him by a defender and he proceeded to fly down the right wing into the Czech zone and fired the game-winner low under Kvaca to end it.
Cantali made 33 saves to record the win while Kvaca faced 27 attempts in defeat.
Canadian Junior Hockey League player of the game awards went to Chapleau and Marek Zachar.
