STECHER SCORES OVERTIME WINNER TO SEND CANADA WEST TO SEMIFINALS

YARMOUTH, N.S. – Troy Stecher (Richmond, B.C./Penticton, BCHL) was the overtime hero, scoring on a power play 1:22 into the extra period to give Canada West a 4-3 win over Russia on Wednesday and send the defending gold medallists to Friday’s semifinals at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge.

It’s a complete reversal of fortune for the Canadians, who went winless in the preliminary round last year in Langley, B.C., before catching fire in the medal round.

Wade Murphy (Victoria, B.C./Penticton, BCHL), Seb Lloyd (Prince George, B.C./West Kelowna, BCHL) and Aaron Hadley (Castlegar, B.C./Vernon, BCHL) were the scorers in regulation time for Canada West, which got all four of its goals from B.C. Hockey League skaters.

Murphy added two assists for a three-point game, while Alex Kerfoot (West Vancouver, B.C./Coquitlam, BCHL) had two helpers, giving him five points in two games.

Jonah Imoo (Surrey, B.C./Powell River, BCHL) was spectacular between the pipes for Canada West, making 37 saves as the Canadians were outshot 40-19.

Vladislav Gavrikov, Nikita Setdikov and Sergei Stetsenko scored the goals for the Russians, who will play the loser of Wednesday night’s preliminary round finale between Canada East and Switzerland in a Thursday quarter-final.

Igor Shestyorkin took the loss in the Russian goal, finishing with 15 saves.

It’s the sixth time the Canadians and Russians have met at the World Junior A Challenge, with Canada West holding a 4-2 advantage. Wednesday’s game was the first meeting to go into overtime.