CANADA FALLS TO SWITZERLAND IN SWISS CHALLENGE

RAPPERSWIL, SWITZERLAND – Martin Kariya (North Vancouver, BC) and Serge Aubin (Val-d’Or, QC) had a goal and an assist apiece in the first period, but Canada’s National Men’s Team fell 4-2 to Switzerland in the Swiss Challenge on Tuesday night.

Canada iced a team made up of Canadian players playing professionally in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. A new group of players – along with holdovers Richie Regehr (Rosthern, SK) and Mario Scalzo (St-Hubert, QC) – will travel to Germany this week to play in the 2008 Deutschland Cup, which opens Friday in Mannheim.

The Swiss excited the 5,228 in attendance at the Diners Club Arena early, as Andreas Ambühl converted a pass from Toronto-born Ryan Gardner for a quick 1-0 lead.

Kariya struck back for the Canadians just 4:51 later on a set up from Aubin and, after Ivo Rüthemann had restored the Swiss lead, connected again late in the period to send the game to the first intermission tied 2-2.

After a scoreless second period the Swiss converted on a powerplay opportunity six minutes into the third period, with Beat Forster getting a shot past Canadian netminder Frederic Cassivi (Sorel, QC).

The Swiss got into penalty trouble late, taking four consecutive minors in the final nine minutes, but Canada failed to capitalize and Sandy Jeannin scored a shorthanded empty net insurance goal in the final minute to put the game out of reach.

Despite taking the loss, Canada outshot Switzerland in all three periods, and 34-21 overall. Swiss goaltender Ronald Rüeger turned aside 32 shots, including 15 in the third period, to register the win.

Canada opens the 2008 Deutschland Cup on Friday when it faces Slovakia at 10 a.m. EST. Follow along with Canada’s National Men’s Team only at hockeycanada.ca as it chases its fourth title at the tournament.

1

2

3

Final

2

0

0

2

2

0

2

4

Goals/Buts :
1:03 SUI Andreas Ambühl (Ryan Gardner, Felicien DuBois)
5:54 CAN Martin Kariya (Serge Aubin, Jeff Toms)
8:06 SUI Ivo Rüthemann (Thierry Paterlini)
14:16 CAN Serge Aubin (Martin Kariya)

Penalties/Pénalités :
03:06 CAN David Ling
15:51 CAN Jean-Guy Trudel
18:29 SUI Patrick Fischer

Goals/Buts :
None/Aucun

Penalties/Pénalités :
00:37 SUI Bench
03:48 SUI Thomas Deruns
05:36 CAN Richie Regehr
06:31 CAN Hnat Domenichelli
17:20 CAN Jeff Toms

Goals/Buts :
5:56 SUI Beat Forster (Ryan Gardner, Paolo Duca) PP
19:31 SUI Sandy Jeannin EN-SH

Penalties/Pénalités :
01:19 CAN Andy Delmore
04:15 CAN Frederic Cassivi
05:37 CAN Richie Regehr
08:55 CAN Rico Fata
10:50 SUI Paolo Duca
12:56 SUI Kevin Romy
16:16 SUI Timo Helbling
19:01 SUI Thomas Ziegler