2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

BOUCHARD’S GOAL SENDS CANADA WHITE TO U17 GOLD MEDAL GAME

STACIE COUCH

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. – Evan Bouchard (Burlington, Ont./London, OHL) scored the game-winning goal on a two-man advantage with 11:09 to go, sending Canada White to the gold medal game at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with a 2-1 win over Sweden on Friday night.

White will face off with Russia in the final in Saturday night (7:30 p.m. MT, live on TSN2).

The game was as intense as it was fast from the first drop of the puck, with the teams combining for 24 shots in the first period alone – 14-10 in favour of the Canadians.

The Swedes opened the scoring late in the first period while shorthanded; Rickard Hugg carried the puck down the right wing, paused at the half-boards and snapped a shot that went off a Canadian in front and past Ian Scott (Calgary, Alta./Prince Albert, WHL) at 17:07.

Scott and Swedish counterpart Olle Eriksson Ek took over from there, although a defensive second period saw the teams manage just six shots apiece.

White finally pulled even 6:34 into the third; just seconds after a power play ended, Bouchard danced around the top of the circles until he found a shooting lane, and Austen Keating (Guelph, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) redirected the shot past Eriksson Ek.

Bouchard did it himself just 2:17 later with the Canadians enjoying a five-on-three, taking a feed from Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Calgary, Alta./Spokane, WHL), and wiring a wrist shot over the glove of Eriksson Ek to put White ahead.

The Swedes had Eriksson Ek on the bench for most of the final 90 seconds, but couldn’t beat Scott.

The White goaltender finished with 24 saves, while Eriksson Ek turned in another solid performance, stopping 26 of the 28 shots he faced.

Sweden will take on Canada Red for the bronze medal on Saturday afternoon at the Encana Events Centre (3 p.m. MT, live on TSN2).