Madferret
4-24-05, 5:40 PM
Canadian Press
4/24/2005
PLSEN, Czech Republic (CP) - The U.S. defeated Canada 5-1 to win the world men's under-18 hockey championship Sunday in a game marred by a ugly hit on Canadian forward Colton Yellowhorn. Phil Kessel, who reinforced his status as the top prospect for the 2006 NHL draft, had two goals, including an empty-netter, and two assists to lead the U.S.
Jason Lawrence scored two power-play goals and Nate Gerbe also scored.
Ryan O'Marra of the Erie Otters scored the lone goal for Canada in the first period on a man advantage. Yellowhorn was driven head first into the boards with six minutes to go in the third period by U.S. forward Justin Mercier.
Yellowhorn was about a metre out from the boards with his back to Mercier when Mercier hit him from behind. Yellowhorn, who plays for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, raised his head and tried to get up, but then lay on the ice while medical personnel brought a stretcher onto the ice.
The 18-year-old from Brocket, Alta., was able to move his hands while laying on the stretcher and he was applauded by spectators in the arena as he was taken off the ice. He was said to be experiencing neck pain, but was conscious and alert and able to move his arms and toes. ''The most important thing is his health right now,'' Canadian head coach Shawn Camp told TSN after the game. ''That's our biggest concern right now.''
Mercier received a match penalty. The conclusion of the game was delayed by several minutes and watching their teammate getting rolled off the ice on a stretcher seemed to sap the Canadians. They had a five-minute power-play because of the Yellowhorn hit, but were unable to score, even when Canadian goaltender Carey Price was pulled with 49 seconds left in the power play for a two-man advantage.
Special teams were the difference as the U.S. scored twice on three power plays, while Canada managed one goal on seven chances.U.S. goaltender Jeff Frazee, who put in a solid performance for the victory as Canada outshot the U.S. 22-7 in the first period and 48-33 overall.
''We looked a little lethargic today,'' Camp said. ''We didn't have the same jump we had in the Czech game and the game kind of got away from us. ''Silver is consolation for some I guess, but not for these kids. It's too bad their effort wasn't rewarded with gold.''
Canada had beaten the host Czech Republic 3-2 on in overtime Friday to advance to the final. Gerbe padded the U.S. lead at 6:21 of the third period when he beat Price from close range on a feed from behind the net from Kessel.
Lawrence scored his second power-play goal midway through the second period to make it 3-1 for the Americans. Canadian defenceman Luc Bourdon was in the penalty box for tripping when Lawrence tipped a Ryan Stoa shot from the point over Price.
Defenceman Marce-Andre Gragnani hit an all-alone Devin Setoguchi with a stretch pass early in the second period on a Canadian power play, but Frazee stopped him. Canada outshot the U.S. by a large margin in the first period on the strength of three power plays to one man advantage for the Americans, but emerged from the first 20 minutes trailing 2-1.
With Canadian forward Dan Bertram in the box for goaltender interference, Kessel went to work, feeding Jason Lawrence from the side of the net for a power-play goal at 16:19 of the first period. Canada had a good chance to tie the game with two minutes left in the opening period when Setoguchi feathered a quick pass to a streaking O'Marra, but Frazee was there to cut off O'Marra's shooting angle.
Canada scored on the third of three power plays early in the first period to tie the game 1-1. O'Marra banged in a goal-mouth feed from Tom Pyatt at 11:41. Gerbe connected with Kessel at the blue-line and Kessel, whose skills and speed set him apart from other players his age, streaked between defenders Bourdon and Kristopher Letang to beat Price with a low shot stick-side at 6:33 of the first period.
Sweden beat the host Czech Republic 4-2 for the bronze medal.
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050424/brassard_53626.jpg
4/24/2005
PLSEN, Czech Republic (CP) - The U.S. defeated Canada 5-1 to win the world men's under-18 hockey championship Sunday in a game marred by a ugly hit on Canadian forward Colton Yellowhorn. Phil Kessel, who reinforced his status as the top prospect for the 2006 NHL draft, had two goals, including an empty-netter, and two assists to lead the U.S.
Jason Lawrence scored two power-play goals and Nate Gerbe also scored.
Ryan O'Marra of the Erie Otters scored the lone goal for Canada in the first period on a man advantage. Yellowhorn was driven head first into the boards with six minutes to go in the third period by U.S. forward Justin Mercier.
Yellowhorn was about a metre out from the boards with his back to Mercier when Mercier hit him from behind. Yellowhorn, who plays for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, raised his head and tried to get up, but then lay on the ice while medical personnel brought a stretcher onto the ice.
The 18-year-old from Brocket, Alta., was able to move his hands while laying on the stretcher and he was applauded by spectators in the arena as he was taken off the ice. He was said to be experiencing neck pain, but was conscious and alert and able to move his arms and toes. ''The most important thing is his health right now,'' Canadian head coach Shawn Camp told TSN after the game. ''That's our biggest concern right now.''
Mercier received a match penalty. The conclusion of the game was delayed by several minutes and watching their teammate getting rolled off the ice on a stretcher seemed to sap the Canadians. They had a five-minute power-play because of the Yellowhorn hit, but were unable to score, even when Canadian goaltender Carey Price was pulled with 49 seconds left in the power play for a two-man advantage.
Special teams were the difference as the U.S. scored twice on three power plays, while Canada managed one goal on seven chances.U.S. goaltender Jeff Frazee, who put in a solid performance for the victory as Canada outshot the U.S. 22-7 in the first period and 48-33 overall.
''We looked a little lethargic today,'' Camp said. ''We didn't have the same jump we had in the Czech game and the game kind of got away from us. ''Silver is consolation for some I guess, but not for these kids. It's too bad their effort wasn't rewarded with gold.''
Canada had beaten the host Czech Republic 3-2 on in overtime Friday to advance to the final. Gerbe padded the U.S. lead at 6:21 of the third period when he beat Price from close range on a feed from behind the net from Kessel.
Lawrence scored his second power-play goal midway through the second period to make it 3-1 for the Americans. Canadian defenceman Luc Bourdon was in the penalty box for tripping when Lawrence tipped a Ryan Stoa shot from the point over Price.
Defenceman Marce-Andre Gragnani hit an all-alone Devin Setoguchi with a stretch pass early in the second period on a Canadian power play, but Frazee stopped him. Canada outshot the U.S. by a large margin in the first period on the strength of three power plays to one man advantage for the Americans, but emerged from the first 20 minutes trailing 2-1.
With Canadian forward Dan Bertram in the box for goaltender interference, Kessel went to work, feeding Jason Lawrence from the side of the net for a power-play goal at 16:19 of the first period. Canada had a good chance to tie the game with two minutes left in the opening period when Setoguchi feathered a quick pass to a streaking O'Marra, but Frazee was there to cut off O'Marra's shooting angle.
Canada scored on the third of three power plays early in the first period to tie the game 1-1. O'Marra banged in a goal-mouth feed from Tom Pyatt at 11:41. Gerbe connected with Kessel at the blue-line and Kessel, whose skills and speed set him apart from other players his age, streaked between defenders Bourdon and Kristopher Letang to beat Price with a low shot stick-side at 6:33 of the first period.
Sweden beat the host Czech Republic 4-2 for the bronze medal.
http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20050424/brassard_53626.jpg