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Team USA Defeats Canada East, 3-1, at WJAC

By USAHockey.com, 12/13/16, 11:45PM EST

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U.S. Meets Swiss in Quarterfinals Tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. ET

BONNYVILLE, Alta. -- Nick Swaney (Lakeville, Minn.), Isaac Johnson (Andover, Minn.) and Collin Adams (Brighton, Mich.) netted goals as the U.S. Junior Select Team defeated Canada East, 3-1, here tonight in the team’s final preliminary-round game of the World Junior A Challenge in Bonnyville, Alberta.

“I’m extremely proud of our bounce-back effort tonight,” said Jay Varady, head coach of the 2016 U.S. Junior Select Team. “We need to bring the same intensity to tomorrow’s quarterfinal game against the Swiss.”

Swaney opened the scoring at 7:49 of the first period when he collected a pass in the neutral zone from Jake Ryczek (Ludlow, Mass.), skated to the high slot, and fired a shot past Canada East netminder Stefano Cantali with Team USA on the first power play of the contest.

Johnson put home a rebound with 2:01 left in the frame to stake the U.S. a 2-1 lead entering the first intermission. Canada East had tied the game at 13:10 of the period on a goal by Bobby Dow.

The U.S. controlled the play in the second stanza, outshooting Canada East, 13-7, and maintained a 2-1 lead headed into the third period.

Adams added an insurance marker with 4:29 to play when he took a feed from Chris Berger (Buffalo, N.Y.) and beat Cantali with a backhand shot from the bottom of the right circle.

Dayton Rasmussen (Eden Prairie, Minn.) finished with 24 saves to to pick up the win in the U.S. net.

Team USA (1-0-0-1, W-OTW-OTL-L) meets Switzerland tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. ET in the quarterfinal round. The game will be streamed live on HockeyTV.com, in addition to being updated live on Twitter @USAHockeyScores.

NOTES: Nick Swaney was named U.S. Player of the Game …  The U.S. outshot Canada East 45-25, finished 1-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill …  For complete game stats, click here … The World Junior A Challenge is in its eleventh year, and the U.S. is competing for the tenth time … All U.S. players currently play in the United States Hockey League, the lone Tier I junior hockey league in the United States. For the full U.S. roster, click here  … For complete coverage of Team USA. at the World Junior A Challenge, click here …  The 2016 field includes Canada East, Canada West, Czech Republic, Russia, Switzerland and the United States … Team USA has captured the World Junior A Challenge title six times (2008-10, 2012-14).

Photos


Team USA Schedule

Date Opponent Time (Local/ET)/ Result
Fri., Dec. 9 Canada West (Pre-Tournament) OTL, 5-6
Mon., Dec. 12 Czech Republic L, 0-1
Tues., Dec. 13 Canada East W, 3-1
Wed., Dec. 14 Switzerland
Quarterfinals
W, 9-0
Thurs., Dec. 15 Russia
Semifinals
W, 4-2
Sat., Dec. 17 Canada East
Championship Game
W, 4-0


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