It wasn’t even close.
When the puck dropped at the Innovation Credit Union iPlex Tuesday, Finland and Team Canada Red had plenty to play for, as the Group B standings were completely muddled.
Following its 7-2 romp over the Finns, Team Canada Red vaulted past Russia into a first-place tie with Sweden, though the Scandinavians get the nod for top spot by virtue of its 4-3 win over the Canadians during the preliminary round.
“It was nice to get the first one out of the gate against Russia,” said Canadian forward Logan Stankhoven (Kamloops; WHL) when asked to sum up the preliminary round. “I thought we played well against Sweden – a game we could have won.
“But today, we played really well and we’re looking to bring that to the quarter-finals.”
The Finns started strong, peppering goaltender Thomas Milic (Burnaby Winter Club, CSSHL) with 17 shots in the first period. However, the keeper stood tall, despite some shoddy defensive zone support, and he gave his team a chance to win.
Niko Huuhtanen scored the only goal of the period, shoveling a rebound under Milic at 12:09.
Team Canada Red blew it open in the second stanza, outscoring the Finns 4-1 to take a 4-2 lead into the final frame.
“I think the speed is about the same,” Stankhoven said when asked to compare his experience in the Western Hockey League this season and the World U17 event. “Even though we’re younger guys out here, it may not be as physical, but it’s a fast-paced game and you have to keep up.
“You’ve got to play heads up hockey. I really notice the speed.”
Nathan Gaucher (Quebec; QMJHL) tallied twice, while Stankhoven and Zach Bolduc (Rimouski; QMJHL) added singles in the middle period. Vijami Juusola answered for Finland, but Team Canada Red had taken complete control.
The onslaught continued in the third period and the Finns fate was sealed by the midway mark. Wyatt Johnston (Windsor; OHL) scored at 5:48 and seven minutes later, Bolduc added his second to make it 6-2. Conner Roulette (Seattle; WHL) added an empty-netter.
There was some extra-curricular in the contest. Late in the first period, Johnston took a checking from behind minor, which comes along with a misconduct as well. In the third, Evan Nause (Sioux Falls; USHL) took a boarding minor and misconduct), then Juho Jarvela was thumbed for a checking from behind major misconduct and game misconduct).
Defenceman Nolan Allan (Prince Albert Raiders; WHL) has thoroughly enjoyed his World U17 Hockey Challenge experience.
“It’s been great so far,” Allan said. “To get that first game against Russia was huge, but then we lost a tough one there to the Swedes.
“So, it’s nice to get this one against the Finns and build for the quarter-finals.”
Allan acknowledges the game is different in the WHL, but that doesn’t take away from the need to focus here at the U17.
“Sure, guys are a lot bigger and stronger, but the pace here is really quick. I mean, it’s the best under-17 players in the world.”
When told his Raiders knocked off the Edmonton Oil Kings Tuesday, the Davidson, Saskatchewan native grinned.
“I’m excited to get back, I haven’t seen them in awhile. I kind of miss them, but I’m having a great time here.”
The teams will take Wednesday off, then four quarter-final games will take place Thursday.
SUMMARY
First Period
1. FIN: Huuhtanen (Salminen, Virolainen) 12:09 (ES)
Penalties: RED Allan (interference) 3:08; FIN Virolainen (interference) 7:05; RED Holmes (hooking) 8:08; RED Johnston (check from behind, misconduct) served by Tinling) 18:29
Second Period
2. RED: Gaucher (Nadeau, Kressler) 2:52 (ES)
3. FIN: Juusola (Lambert, Marjala) 6:20 (ES)
4. RED: Stankhoven (Roy, Zellweger) 7:36 (ES)
5. RED: Bolduc (Nause, Gaucher) 8:57 (ES)
6. RED: Gaucher (Lockhart) 11:31 (ES)
Penalties: RED: Pinelli (trip) 5:33; FIN: Salminen (tripping); RED: Roulette (tripping) 7:21; FIN: Lambert (roughing) 9:40; RED: Roy (hooking) 10:12; RED: Bench Minor (served by Roy)18:38; FIN: Salminen (hooking) 19:29
Third Period
7. RED: Johnston (Tinling) 5:48 (ES)
8. RED: Bolduc (Punnett, Gaucher) 12:47 (PP)
9. RED: Roulette (Bloom) 19:20 (EN)
Penalties: RED: Nause (boarding, misconduct) served by Reynolds 3:16; FIN: Jarvela (check from behind major, misconduct, game misconduct) served by Huuhtanen 12:47; RED: Gaucher (tripping) 15:40
Shots on Goal:
RED 15/18/6: 39
FINLAND 17/12/12: 41
Goaltenders:
RED: Milic (60:00) 39/41
FINLAND: Helomma (57:00) 32/38
Quarter-Finals – Thursday, Nov. 7
Finland vs USA (3:00pm in Medicine Hat)
Czech Republic vs Sweden (3:00pm in Swift Current)
Russia vs Canada BLACK (7:00pm in Medicine Hat)
Canada RED vs Canada WHITE (7:00pm in Swift Current)
Notes…Team Canada Black won all three of its games in overtime and was the only team to go undefeated in the preliminary round. Black earned six points in the standings. However, USA won two games in regulation, worth three points each and also garnered a point for its overtime loss to Black. Therefore, USA finished first in Group A with seven points. Black finished second…Team White roster includes Cole Sillinger (Medicine Hat Tigers), Matt Savoie and Carson Lambos (Winnipeg ICE), Dylan Guenther (Edmonton Oil Kings), Graham Sward (Spokane Chiefs) and Tyler Brennan (Prince George Cougars)…Team Black roster includes Jayden Grubbe (Red Deer Rebels), Sean Tschirgel (Calgary Hitmen), Kai Uchacz (Seattle Thunderbirds), Nolan Bentham (Victoria Cougars) and Corson Cuelemans (Brooks Bandits/Moose Jaw Warriors)…Ceulemans was a member of the Bandits 2019 Centennial Cup championship team, emblematic of Junior A hockey supremacy in Canada.
