Team Canada East’s Dylan Edwards of the OJHL’s Toronto Patriots battles Joe Connor of the United States during the USA’s 7-2 win at the World Junior A Challenge in Truro, NS, Friday. ((Photo: Erica Perreaux / Hockey Canada Images)
Team Canada East, with 12 Ontario Junior Hockey League players on its roster, will play Sweden in one semifinal game at the World Junior A Challenge in Truro, NS, today.
Canada East completed the round-robin section of the tournament with a 4-1-0 record following a 7-2 loss to the United States Friday night.
Ben Pickell (Courtice, ON/Pickering, OJHL) and Vincent Gauthier (St-Zotique, QC/Valleyfield, LHJAAAQ) scored for Canada East.
“I think we got away from the game plan tonight,” said Canada East head coach Billy McGuigan (Summerside, PE/Summerside, MHL). “Our structure wasn’t nearly as good as it has been in the first few games. The message is simple, the round-robin is over and it’s time to go now. We have to have a short memory, get some rest and go to work tomorrow, it’s time for the fun stuff.”
Next games – December 16
Semifinal #1 | Sweden vs. Canada East – 12:00 p.m. ET
Semifinal #2 | Canada West vs. United States – 4:00 p.m. ET
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada will broadcast Sunday’s medal games from the Rath Eastlink Community Centre in Truro. The bronze medal game begins at 12 noon ET and the championship final goes at 4 p.m. ET, both on TSN3.
For more information on the 2023 World Junior A Hockey Challenge, visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook and X.
