A Canada West team stacked with BCHL skaters failed to advance past the quarter-finals at the World Junior A Challenge in Kindersley, SK.
The tournament ran Dec. 14-20, with Canada West joined by Canada East, the United States, Denmark, Russia and Switzerland.
Canada West opened with a 3-2 loss to Denmark, with Penticton Vees scoring both goals.
Gabe Bast scored the first, set up by Vees teammate Dante Fabbro.
Tyson Jost scored an unassisted power play goal in the third period.
Canada West lost despite out-shooting Denmark 33-25.
Nikolaj Ehlers, who plays for the major junior Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) and was the ninth overall pick of the National Hockey League’s Winnipeg Jets last June, scored twice for Denmark.
Canada West recorded their lone win the next day, edging Russia 3-2 in a shootout.
Jost and Bast scored again in regulation time.
The shootout went three rounds, with Jost beating Russian netminder Anton Krasotkin.
Penticton’s Demino Hannoun was unsuccessful on his shootout attempt.
Canada West and East clashed in a Wednesday quarter-final, with the East winning 4-2. Fabbro had one of the goals and Langley Riverman Marcus Vela picked up two assists.
Other BCHLers in the tournament included Powell River Kings Kurt Keats and Carmine Buono, Prince George Spruce King Viktor Dombrovskiy and Nanaimo Clipper Sheldon Rempal.
Find tourney results online at hockeycanada.ca
