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Team USA Falls to Canada West, 5-1, in WJAC Finals

By USA Hockey, 12/16/17, 2:15PM EST

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Drury scores, Team USA outshoots Canada West, 36-19

TRURO, N.S. - Jack Drury (Winnetka, Ill.) scored, but the U.S. Junior Select Team fell to Canada West, 5-1,  to take second place in the 2017 World Junior A Challenge at RECC Arena.

''Its an unfortunate result for us,” said PK O'Handley, head coach of the 2017 U.S. Junior Select Team. “We just didn’t have enough left in the tank and that is how the game unfolded. I’m proud of our guys for the tournament as a whole.”

Both teams went on power plays five minutes into regulation and generated multiple scoring chances, but neither were able to find the back of the net.  Canada West got on the board 9:06 into the frame, when Levi Kleiboer delivered a stretch pass to Brendan Budy at center ice, who went on a shorthanded breakaway and fired past U.S. goaltender Jake Kucharksi (Erie, Pa.).

Angus Crookshank doubled Canada West’s lead with 7:24 remaining in the frame when he banked home a give-and-go passing play with Ethan de Jong.

Team USA thought it had cut the lead to one midway through the second frame when captain Graham Slaggert (South Bend, Ind.) rushed the net and slid the puck past Canadian netminder Zach Rose, but the goal was waved off.

With 7:45 remaining in the stanza, Corey Andonovski was able to fire a quick shot off the boards and past Kucharski to push Team USA’s deficit to three goals.

The U.S. was able to answer just 2:17 later when Drury connected on the U.S. power play. After making the initial shot, Drury followed his shot and banked home his rebound, placing Team USA within two goals of Canada West entering the final frame.

In the final 20 minutes, Ross Amour scored for Canada West 6:36 into the final period before Dylan Holloway tallied less than a minute later to account for the 5-1 final.

Kucharski, who started in goal for the U.S., finished with nine saves on 12 shots while Ryan Bischel (Medina, Minn.) finished with five saves on seven shots in relief.

NOTES:  Team USA outshot Canada West, 36-19…The World Junior A Challenge is in its twelfth year, and the U.S. is competing for the eleventh time … Since the inaugural tournament in 2006, Team USA has captured seven tournament crowns (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) along with three third-place finishes … 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 2017 field includes Canada East, Canada West, Czech Republic, Russia, Switzerland and the United States.

2018 WJAC

World Junior A Challenge History

U.S. SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Round Time (Local/ET) Location Stream
Fri., Dec. 8 Canada East W, 7-0 7:30 p.m./6:30 p.m. RECC Arena
Truro, N.S.
Mon., Dec. 11 Czech Republic L, 2-4 3:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. RECC Arena
Truro, N.S.
HockeyTV
Tues., Dec. 12 Canada West W, 2-1 7:30 p.m./6:30 p.m. RECC Arena
Truro, N.S.
HockeyTV
Wed., Dec. 13 Switzerland
Quarterfinals
W, 3-1 3:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. RECC Arena
Truro, N.S.
HockeyTV
Thurs., Dec.14 Russia
Semifinals
W, 5-0 3:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. RECC Arena
Truro, N.S.
HockeyTV
Sat., Dec. 16 Canada West
Championship Game
L, 1-5 3p.m./2 p.m. RECC Arena
Truro, N.S.

World Junior A Challenge News