U20 World Junior Championships

WHL at the World Junior Champiosnhips day five

Written by Brandon Rivers on

Czech Republic 6 Belarus 5

Belarus (0-4) and the Czech Republic (2-1) played a thriller in the opening game on Saturday. Belarus took a 2-0 lead in the second period but the Cezchs reeled off five goals in a row to take a 5-2 lead in the third period. Red Deer Rebels forward Kristian Reichel assisted on the first goal for the Czech republic in the second and it was his first point in the tournament. Reichel was a plus-one and had two shots in 15:01.

Saskatoon Blades d-man Libor Hajek followed up on a drive into the zone and rifled a shot in for his first goal of the tournament to tie the game at two in the second. Hajek now has two points in the tournament. Hajek later set up the fourth goal in-a-row and has two points in the game. He now has four points in three games and skated 20:22 in this one.

Prince Albert Raiders blue liner Vojtech Budik had an assist on the goal.

Calgary Hitmen d-man Vladislav Yeryomenko helped set up Victoria Royals forward Igor Martynov on the power play to help close the game to within 5-4 with 9:33 left in the game.

Yeryomenko once again led Belarus in ice time wth 24:05 and with this assist, has two points in three games. Martynov’s goal was his second point in the tournament. He skated 16:01 and had three shots.

Budik then had his second assist of the game and tournament to set up a 6-4 lead for the Czechs. That would end up being the game winner as Belarus scored another to make this a 6-5 final. Budik skated 22:01 and was a plus-one.

Kamloops Blazers d-man Ondrej Vala was a plus-two in 18:55, while Spokane Chiefs blue liner Filip Kral had one shot in 19:15 in the win.

Prince George Cougars forward Vladislav Mikhalchuk had one shot and was a minus-one in 11:24.

Belarus is now guaranteed to be playing in the relegation round with Denmark.

 

Sweden 7 Switzerland 2

Sweden (3-0) broke away from Switzerland (1-2) in the third period after the two were tied at one after one and Sweden led 3-2 after two. Sweden scored four in-a-row to win 7-2.

Kamloops Blazers forward Justin Sigrist had one shot and was a plus-one in 12:55 of ice time.

Finland 5 Slovakia 2

After Kootenay ICE defenseman Martin Bodak scored to tie the game at one in the first period, Swift Current Broncos forward Aleski Heponiemi followed up another Finn goal and scored a goal off a tip in the third period to give Finland (2-1) a 3-1 lead. That would end up being the winner as Finland would go on to beat Slovakia 5-2 (1-2).

 

Bodak was a plus-one in 17:55, while Heponiemi, who now has two goals in the tournament, had two shots and was a minus-one in 15:17.

Portland Winterhawks defenseman Henri Jokiharju had four shots and was a minus-one in 19:20, while Tri-City Americans blue liner Juuso Valimaki had one shot and was a plus-one in 21:33.

For Slovakia, Vancouver Giants forward Milos Roman had three shots in 17:54.

Canada 8 Denmark 0

Canada (3-0-0-1) locked up first place in Group A with a crushing 8-0 win over Denmark (0-3). The win also means that Denmark needs to win Sunday against Slovakia.

Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brett Howden had two goals in the game, his first of the tournament. He backhanded home a rebound in the first to stake Canada to a 2-0 lead late.

His East Division rival Sam Steel then scored another one with under 30 seconds left in the first to make it 3-0. Steel now has five points in four games and had four shots in 16:16 in this one.

Howden added his second of the game to make it 5-0 in the second. He had three shots in 14:13.

Calgary Hitmen d-man Jake Bean had one assist in 23:32. Cal Foote had two assists, one shot and was a plus-four in 20:47.

Kelowna Rockets forward Dillon Dube had two shots and was a plus-one in 13:45. Brandon Wheat Kings d-man Kale Clague had four shots in 22:05, while Swift Current Broncos forward Tyler Steenbergen had one shot in 10:55.

For Denmark, Portland Winterhawks forward Joachim Blichfeld had three shots and was a minus-two in 17:59. He had two great chances in the first that could have made this game a little more interesting.

He was turned away both times by Everett Silvertips netminder Carter Hart, who stopped all 18 shots he faced.