2006-07 National Men's Under-18 Team

TEAM CANADA WINS THRILLER OVER TEAM U.S.A.

RAUMA, Finland – Zac Boychuk was the hero in a shootout as Team Canada beat Team U.S.A. 3-2 in a battle of rivals at the World Under-18 Hockey Championship on Sunday night.

Boychuk, the Airdrie, AB native who plays for the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes, beat U.S.A. goaltender Josh Unice with a forehand to backhand deke to give Canada the win. Steven Stamkos (Unionville, ON/Sarnia, OHL) scored Canada’s other goal in the shootout.
Kevin Shattenkirk scored the lone shootout goal for the U.S.A.

Team Canada trailed 2-1 late in the third period, when Colton Gillies (Surrey, BC/Saskatoon, WHL) redirected a pass from Yann Sauve (Rigaud, QC/Saint John, QMJHL) and beat Unice to tie the game at 2-2.

Canada led 1-0 after the first period and the teams were tied 1-1 after two.

Luke Schenn (Saskatoon, SK/Kelowna, WHL) scored the only goal of the first period. Stamkos sent a perfect pass to Schenn, whose wrist shot beat Unice.

Team U.S.A. tied the game at 1-1 at the five-minute mark of the second. Ryan McDonagh’s shot went wide, but a rebound came off the boards right on the stick of James Van Riemsdyk, who stuffed the puck past Trevor Cann (Oakville, ON/Peterborough, OHL).
Team U.S.A. took a 2-1 lead at 13:35 when Justin Vaive crashed the net and put in a rebound off a shot by Jim O’Brien.

Cann was outstanding in the Canadian net, stopping 44 of 46 shots in regulation and overtime, and then stopping four of five shooters.

Team Canada has Monday off before completing its preliminary round on Tuesday against Team Russia. The game will be televised on TSN, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET. Check local listings for more.