Team Canada West defeated Team Canada East 8-5 in a semifinal in Cobourg, Ont. thanks to a six-goal third period Thursday to advance to the World Junior A Challenge gold medal game.
The line of Liam Finlay (Kelowna, B.C./Vernon, BCHL), Tyson Jost (Kelowna, B.C./Penticton, BCHL) and Joseph Nardi (Edmonton, Alta./Whitecourt, AJHL) combined for nine points in that third period. Canada East also struck for three goals.
Jost, captain of Canada West and the BCHL Vees, tied a tournament record with four points in the third period in which he scored once and collected three assists.
“We had guys chipping in with big goals at key times, and that’s what you need to win the one-game showdowns,” said Team Canada West in a press release. “You need guys stepping up on the bench, and that’s what we had in the third period.”
The teams were deadlocked at two then had a scoreless second period.
Canada West built a two goal lead 6:14 into the third. Not long after the 4-2 goal, Brett Murray and Luc Brown struck for Canada East. Sixteen seconds after Canada East tied the game at four, Jost put Canada West on top again. Josh Kosack tied the game one last time at 14:50 before Nardi, Tyler Busch and Noah Bauld sealed the game for Canada West. Matthew Murray finished with 24 saves in the win.
Canada West will face Russia Saturday at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT and will be broadcast by TSN.
