Canada book playoff spot at junior worlds

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Published time: December 30, 2012 13:27
Edited time: December 30, 2012 17:27

Canada's players celebrate defeating Team USA during their preliminary round game at the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. (Reuters/Mark Blinch)

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Hockey, Juniors, World cup

Canada’s youth team have grabbed a playoff spot at the World Junior Hockey Championships edging their American coevals 2-1.

Edmonton Oilers starlet Ryan Nugent-Hopkins broke the deadlock midway through the first period, claiming his eighth point at the tournament.

Seven minutes later, center forward Ryan Strome doubled Canada’s lead, making the most of Brett Ritchie’s clever assist from behind the goal and thus joining Finnish forward Markus Granlund at the top of scoring charts on four goals.

The US answered with a goal of their own in the third period courtesy of Jacob Trouba, but instead of the final assault the Americans condemned themselves to shorthanded play collecting four fouls in the final minutes of play and left empty-handed.

The win returns Canada to the top of Group B and their Monday clash with hosts, the so-far undefeated Russia, will decide who will go straight into the semis. Meanwhile, the US will battle it out with Slovakia on Monday for the third playoff spot.

Comments (4)

HopperRox 31.12.2012 15:39

I wish the Russian team good luck in the games, as some one else has said, it's always a great game! ~HopperRox in Canada!

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dimon225 31.12.2012 01:38

Sweden has to die for the last year.

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Bootsa 30.12.2012 20:13

It could well be a preview of the finals. However, the by to the semis is important this year, because the loser may well face Finland, and that is the one team on the other side of the draw that both Canada and Russia should fear -- the three best teams this year are clearly Canada, Russia, and the US, most likely but not necessarily, in that order.

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