|
Japanese hospitality was not on display Friday as the hosts cruised to an 8-2 victory
over Canada in the first game of the Nagano Cup.
The Mid-West Islanders, who are representing Canada in this tournament, were overmatched by the Japanese
national team for the second game in a row. The team from Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan, lost 5-1 to the
Japanese in an exhibition game on Wednesday.
"The Japanese team plays with a ton of speed and a ton of intensity," said Canada's coach Blaine
Gusdal after Friday's loss. "They come in waves...we didn't get the goaltending we are accustomed to
tonight."
Takahito Suzuki scored a goal and set up another to lead Japan. The captain of Japan's team scored on a power
play goal late in the first period at Big Hat arena as the host nation jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
"We're obviously very pleased with the result," said Japan's coach Mark Mahon, a Canadian who has
played and coached in the Japanese league. "Our power play was very solid and now we just have to work
on our defensive team play to get to the next level."
The Nagano Cup is played to commemorate the 1998 Nagano Olympics, where players from the National Hockey
League took part in the Olympics for the first time.
Yasunori Iwata, Aaron Keller and Akifumi Okuyama added goals in the second period when Japan opened up a
commanding 6-0 lead before Russ Hewson got the Canadians on the scoreboard late in the second period.
Former NHLer Blair Atcheynum scored for Canada in the third period while Junichi Takahashi and Takeshi Saito
tallied for the host nation to close out the scoring.
Canada will take on a club from Russia on Saturday in their final game of the three-nation tourney. Japan
plays Russia on Sunday.
| Box Score |
CAN |
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
| Compte |
JPN |
3
|
3
|
2
|
8
|
| First Period/Première période |
|
Scoring/Buts:
JPN, Kazuyoshi Yamaguchi (Yasunori Iwata) 14 :07
JPN, Masahiro Kawamura (Chris Yule, Tomohiko Uchiyama) 15:55 PPG
JPN, Takahito Suzuki (Kengo Ito) 18:16 PPG
Penalties/Pénalités:
Junichi Takahashi, JPN (Slashing/cingler) 6:12
Russ Henson, CAN (Interference/obstruction) 14:27
Dan Brokenfohr, CAN (Boarding/donner de la bande) 17:56
Geoff Lynch, CAN (Cross-Checking/double-échec) 18:59
|
| Second Period/Deuxième période |
|
Scoring/Buts:
JPN, Yasunori Iwata (Tomohiko Uchiyama) 21:42 PPG
JPN, Aaron Michio Keller (Takeshi Saito) 25:54
JPN, Akifumi Okuyama (Takayuki Kobori, Fumitaka Miyauchi) 31:52
CAN, Russ Hewson (Mike Thompson) 37:33
Penalties/Pénalités:
Richard Nault, CAN (Slashing/cingler) 20:25
Takayuki Sakai, JPN (Tripping/trebucher) 23:27
Yasunori Iwata, JPN (Hi-Sticking/Baton eleve) 26:58
Daisuke Obara, JPN (Interference/Obstruction) 29:48
Blair Atcheynum, CAN (Misconduct/inconduite) 36:04
Aaron Michio Keller, JPN (Misconduct/inconduite) 36:04
|
| Third Period/Troisième période |
|
Scoring/Buts:
JPN, Junichi Takahashi (Takahito Suzuki, Takeshi Saito ) 43:15
CAN, Blair Atcheynum (Martin Smith, Rob Douglas) 51 :54
JPN, Takeshi Saito (Chris Yule, Tomohiko Uchiyama) 57:41 PPG
Penalties/Pénalités:
Takahito Suzuki, JPN (Holding/retenir) 40:53
Junichi Takahashi, JPN (Holding/retenir) 44:50
Geoff Lynch, CAN (Hi-Sticking/Baton eleve) 54:20
Geoff Lynch, CAN (Game/match) 54:20
Derek Shybunka, CAN (slashing/cingler) 59:10
Craig Haydon, CAN (slashing/cingler) 59:41
Craig Haydon, CAN (roughing/rudesse) 59:41
Blair Zahara, CAN (Cross-Checking/Double-échec) 60:00
Blair Zahara, CAN (Cross-Checking/Double-échec) 60:00
|
| Goaltenders |
CAN |
Stephan Wagner |
| Gardiennes de but |
JPN |
Junji O'Gino |
|
| Shots on Goal |
Team |
1 p
|
2 p
|
3 p
|
Final
|
| Shots on Goal |
CAN |
10
|
8
|
16
|
34
|
| Tirs au but |
JPN |
6
|
11
|
11
|
28
|
|
| Referee/Arbitre |
- |
| Linesmen/Juges des lignes |
- |
|
| Attendance/Assistance |
1308 |
|
HOCKEY CANADA
