2024 Junior A World Challenge – Dec. 9-15, 2024
- Ivar Stenberg led the way with two goals and one assist for Sweden.
- Viktor Klingsell also finished with three points, all assists.
- Hudson Sedo (St. Albert, AB/Canmore, AJHL) earned Player of Game honours for Canada West with 27 saves.
United States 3, Canada East 2
- Cameron Eke (St. Catharines, ON/Collingwood, OJHL) and Ethan Facchina (Parkhill, ON/Collingwood, OJHL) scored for Canada East.
- Noah Tegelaar (Georgetown, ON/Collingwood, OJHL) turned aside 37 shots and earned Player of the Game honours.
- Lucas Van Vliet chipped in with two assists for the United States.
Next Games – December 15
- Canada West vs. Canada East (bronze medal game) – 1 p.m. MT/3 p.m. ET
- United States vs. Sweden (gold medal game) – 5 p.m. MT/7 p.m. ET
Quotes:
“They are a heck of a hockey team, there’s no doubt about that. We had a couple of bounces that didn’t go our way, but the nice thing is the guys battled right until the end. This was the best game we have played in the tournament; the team recognizes that, and the coaching staff also recognizes it. We’ve said from the beginning, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and we are extremely focused on tomorrow.”
Canada West assistant coach Shawn Martin (Wainwright, AB/Whitecourt, AJHL) on the opportunity to finish the tournament with a medal.
“We were struggling in the first period. We scored four goals on the power play, got good goaltending (from Love Härenstam), a good penalty kill and it was a good game. Twice before [during this season] we have played for a bronze medal – at the U17 World Challenge and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup – so it’s a big step for us to play in the final and we’re happy for that. We still have to play better tomorrow; you have to bring your best if you want to win. We have a talented team, and we have just have to play to our strengths tomorrow.”
Sweden head coach Thomas Paananen on the chance to play for gold.
“There is nothing negative I can say about our group. These guys came in, we started slow, but throughout the week we got better and today it showed. We competed against a really good team and hearing their coach tell us we gave them a great battle, it’s fun to hear and it’s a credit to our guys. Sometimes life isn’t fair, but we’re going to move on and get ready for tomorrow and at least leave here with a medal around our neck.”
Canada East head coach Bruce Richardson (Pincourt, QC/Valleyfield, LHJAAAQ) on being proud of his team’s effort.
“Our goal coming in was to get a chance to compete for the gold medal, and to earn that is a great feeling. The stress level was high as we played against a very competitive team that stuck to their game plan and made it hard on us for the full 60 minutes. I’m proud that the guys fought through it, but we’re where we want to be and that’s the most important thing. Sweden has a really good forward group. They’re a balanced team, they’re strong and move the puck well, so we have to manage our puck movement and compete hard. We didn’t play our best last time, they played well so we probably deserved the result we got (a 5-3 loss), but we’re excited for another opportunity and hopefully we’ll bring a better team effort.”
United States head coach Matt Smaby on playing for gold after capturing bronze in 2023.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the bronze medal and gold medal games; check local listings for details.
Photo credit: Hockey Canada Images
