World Junior A Challenge-Exhibition: Canada West 6 Russia 1

Vernon Vipers forward Liam Finlay collected (1-goal-1-assist) in Canada West's 6-1 Exhibition victory over Russia Friday at the World Junior A Challenge in Trenton, Ontario.

This was posted on the CJHL website:

With the start of the 2015 World Junior A Challenge just two days away, five of the six competing teams were on the ice Friday night in southeastern Ontario to get their first, and only, taste of pre-tournament action.

Canadian teams split their exhibition games – Canada West topped Russia, while Canada East dropped a decision to the United States – and a team of OJHL All-Stars edged the Czech Republic in a shootout thriller.

Canada West 6 – Russia 1 (at Trenton, Ont.)

The Canadians were in control from the get-go, outshooting the Russians 15-8 in the first period and taking a 3-0 lead to the dressing room on goals by Tyson Jost (Kelowna, B.C./Penticton, BCHL), Brinson Pasichnuk (Bonnyville, Alta./Bonnyville, AJHL) and Tyler Maltby (Sherwood Park, Alta./Sherwood Park, AJHL).

Justin Fregona (Mississauga, Ont./Langley, BCHL) had the lone goal of the second period before Liam Finlay (Kelowna, B.C./Vernon, BCHL) and Bobby McMann (Wainwright, Alta./Bonnyville, AJHL) capped the Canadian scoring in the third; Mikhail Maltsev ruined West’s shutout bid with five minutes left, but it was merely consolation by that point.

Jost, Finlay, McMann and Fregona each had a goal and an assist in the win.

Matthew Murray (St. Albert, Alta./Spruce Grove, AJHL) (12-of-12) and Bo Didur (West Vancouver, B.C./Langley, BCHL) (11-of-12) split the goaltending duties for Canada West, while Vladislav Sukhachev gave up three goals on 15 shots in the first period in the Russian goal before giving way to Mikhail Berdin, who stopped 26 of 29 the rest of the way.

Hockey Canada Boxscore,

http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/game/show/11971204?subseason=265357&referrer=2045691&referrer=2045691

Hockey Canada Live game sheet,

http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/game/game_sheet/11971204 

Canada West will play Sunday in Cobourg, Ontario 1pm EST vs Czech Republic