Action at the World Jr. A Challenge in Trois-Rivières, Quebec continues tonight after a day off on Tuesday.
Canada East leads the way in the standings after two games, the host team collecting five points after a 4-1 regulation time win against Team USA, and then a 4-3 shootout win over Team Canada West ahead of their final preliminary round game against Sweden tonight. Canada West is in last place with their only point so far coming in the shootout after losing to Team Sweden in the opener, the Swedes logjammed with the Americans in the middle of the standings with three points each.
Today’s games will determine the semi-final matchups on Friday. In the first game at 3:00 PM EST Team Sweden needs a regulation win to move past Canada East into first place. A win for Team USA would also give them six points, but all of that could be for not if Canada East can secure a win in any fashion and move to seven points. Canada West, coached by Melfort Mustangs bench boss Trevor Blevins and featuring Kindersley Jr. Klippers defenseman Jaxon Herchak along with five other SJHL’ers, will need a win of any sort if they want to try and climb out of last place entering the semis.
After another off-day tomorrow Friday’s playoff round will see 1v4 and 2v3 matchups to set up Saturday’s finals. The losers will play for the bronze medal in the early game before the winners go head-to-head afterwards for gold to end off a terrific ten-days of hockey out east.
Entering the final day of prelims Canada East has a +4 goal differential, Team USA is at +3, Sweden at -2 and Canada West at -5. American Colin Frank is the tournaments leading scorer with three points, all goals to lead in that category as well.