World U-17 Hockey Challenge Roundup: Canada Red edges White
Canada Red may have blown a three-goal lead, but Michael Misa managed to win the game for his team in overtime to beat Canada White 4-3.
Canada White secured its first point of the tournament, leaving Czechia as the lone team without anything to show for heading into the second half of the tournament. Canada Red is now firmly in third place with a 1-1-0-1 record.
Canada Red’s top line struck first at 6:54. After Michael Misa made a diving pass play from his stomach, Porter Martone poked a loose puck past David Egorov for the 1-0 goal. That scored remained until the halfway point of the third, when Martone and Berkly Catton took the puck out of their zone and made multiple passes on a 2-on-0 play. Catton ultimately got the last touch, beating Egorov for the 2-0 goal.
The two teams then traded goals under two minutes apart to make it 3-1. First, Red’s Ethan Procyszyn’s harmless-looking wrister beat White’s goaltender to extend their advantage. But just 1:45 later, Roger McQueen was in the right spot at the right time to knock in Gavin Hodnett’s pass, making it 3-1.
A great opening shift in the third period by Canada White’s top line brought the squad within one. Hodnett got his own rebound and made it 3-2 after McQueen and Beckett Sennecke helped to keep the pressure on.
White continued to show its strength, outshooting Red 15-5 in the first 12 minutes of the third. That ended up with a power-play goal at 51:43 when Cayden Lindstrom converted on a Henry Mews pass to make it 3-3 and force overtime.
Canada White ensured Red’s Gabriel D’Aigle was busy in net, sending 50 shots his way in regulation. They didn’t test him much in overtime, though, as Red’s Michael Misa gained possession of the puck and beat all three White defenders before sending a wrister past David Egorov for the game-winning goal.
Three Stars
- Porter Martone, F (Canada Red): Martone had a goal and an assist, finding special chemistry with WHL star Berkly Catton. The second goal, in particular, was fun.
- Gabriel D’Aigle, G (Canada Red): After making 47 saves in regulation, D’Aigle had the best goaltending performance of the tournament so far. A great response after a tough loss to Canada Black in the first game.
- Roger McQueen, F (Canada White): McQueen is a menace around the net and scored his team’s opening goal. He had three points while centering White’s top line.