HALIFAX | Junior Team Canada was hoping not to have to rely on Connor Bedard’s magic once again in the semi-finals against the United States on Wednesday night. Joshua Roy and Thomas Milic got the message.
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Photo QMI Agency, John Morris
Joshua Roy gave the Americans a big blow, making it 4-2 in the second period.
Roy had two goals and two assists while Milic was sensational, making 43 saves to help ECJ win 6-2 and succeed in his first mission, to give himself a chance to win the gold medal.
Canada will face the Czech Republic on Thursday night in the grand final. In the only clash between the two teams, the curtain raiser of the tournament, the Czechs won 5-2. Wednesday, they defeated Sweden in extra time to reach a first final since 2001.
CHAOTIC START
But the first minutes of Wednesday’s game did not suggest that ECJ would get its pass in the final.
The United States weren’t intimidated by the boisterous crowd at the Scotiabank Center in the first period and they completely dominated the Canadian team during the first ten minutes of play. Logan Cooley first put down the Canadian fans in the second minute of play when he collected a rebound before beating Thomas Milic between the pads, then Kenny Connors doubled the American lead midway through the period.
BEDARD, AGAIN
But as has literally been the case since the start of the tournament, Connor Bedard pulled another rabbit out of his hat less than two minutes after that goal to allow his team to breathe a little despite the difficult start to the game, particularly defensively. The 17-year-old forward charged into the net before redirecting a fine pass from Ethan Del Mastro, to score his ninth goal of the tournament and revive a crowd that had been lulled by the intensity of the Americans .
The tide completely turned as soon as play resumed, in second.
Logan Stankoven first tied the game in the 47the second of play by jumping on a rebound from Brandt Clarke, then Adam Fantilli caused hysteria in the amphitheater by taking advantage of a superb pass from Zach Dean to give Canada the lead.
After watching the Americans score, before the goal was finally disallowed for goalkeeper interference, Roy added some more before the end of the engagement with a nice precise backhand shot, in the upper part, to register his third point in the game.
ROY IS ILLUSTRATED
A few minutes earlier, the Beauceron forward had also spent precious seconds shorthanded, managing to keep the puck in United States territory, to the delight of the crowd who had not failed to let him know when he returned. on the bench.
With an assist on Roy’s goal, Bedard took his World Juniors career tally to 36, joining Esa Tikkanen for fourth all-time. Only Peter Forsberg (42), Robert Reichel (40) and Pavel Bure (39) are ahead of him now.
The American team had thought to close the gap at the start of the third, but, for a second time, the video replay showed that the United States forward, in this case Rutger McGroarty, had obstructed the goalkeeper.
Exactly as they had done the first time around, ECJ scored soon after, thanks to Brandt Clarke taking advantage of good work from Owen Beck and Fantilli on the forecheck.
Roy completed the scoring in an empty net, while ECJ was playing shorthanded. His four points allowed him to reach the milestone of 10 in the tournament and he tied the mark of most points for a Quebecer 18) established by Jonathan Huberdeau.
The United States will therefore have an appointment with Sweden for the bronze match.