Stapley-Canada West Drop Opening Game To Czech's:

Vernon Vipers forward Brett Stapley went pointless in a 5-2 loss to the
Czech Republic in Sunday's opening game at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge.

TRURO, N.S. – David Kofron scored a pair of goals and Jachym Kondelik added a goal and an assist, pacing the Czech Republic to a 5-2 win over Canada West in the curtain-raiser Sunday at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge.

The Czechs won their tournament opener for the first time in six appearances, and sent West to its first Day 1 loss since 2014.

Lukas Rousek converted on the first Czech Republic power play just past the eight-minute mark, driving to the net and going five-hole on Canadian goaltender Mitch Adamyk to make it 1-0.

Kofron doubled the advantage just 1:26 later, knocking a one-time feed from Pavel Kousal through Adamyk to send the Europeans to the dressing room up by a pair.

Boxscore-Game Summary,

https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/national-championships/men/world-junior-a/2017/stats/game-summary?gameid=1702

Former Vernon Vipers forward Finn Evans went pointless in Canada Easts 5-1 loss to Russia in Sundays game at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge.

TRURO, N.S. – Alexander Romanov and Ivan Morozov scored two goals each, and Russia rode its special teams to a 5-1 win over Canada East in the opening game for both Sunday night at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge.

The Russians scored twice on the power play, once shorthanded and once at 6-on-5 on a delayed penalty, beating the easterners for the sixth time in nine all-time meetings.

Grigory Denisenko added a goal and two assists for Russia, while Amir Miftakhof stopped 27 of 28 shots.

Romanov scored first at the 16-minute mark, hammering a point shot through traffic and past Canadian goaltender Jett Alexander with Miftakhof on the bench for an extra attacker.

Boxscore-Game Summary,

https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/national-championships/men/world-junior-a/2017/stats/game-summary?gameid=1703