Bonnyville PONTIACS defenseman Brinson PASICHNUK and forward Bobby McMANN are playing a significant role on Team Canada West.
Now in its ninth year, the World Junior A Challenge has crowned either the United States or Canada West as its champion in every year since the event’s inception. Those two titans met Tuesday night in the tournament’s preliminary round, with Canada West earning a 3-2 win and first place in Group B.
The victory gave Canada West (2-0-0-0) a bye into Thursday’s tournament semifinals. It also snapped Team USA’s five-game winning streak against Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge.
A capacity crowd in Ontario’s Cobourg Community Center watched an even game swing suddenly in Canada West’s favor when Noah Bauld scored a shorthanded goal at 16:57 of the first period. The Canadians then extended their lead to 2-0 at 10:19 of the second period, leaving Team USA to chase the game against a stingy Canadian defense. Canada West beat the United States 3-2 on Tuesday at the World Junior A Challenge in Cobourg, Ontario.
The semi-final game can be watched on the Hockey Canada website via FAST Hockey.
