INNSBRUCK, Austria (CIS) - Lakehead University's Joel Scherban of Thunder Bay, Ont. scored the game winner in an overtime shootout and Dany Dallaire made 36 saves as Canada topped Slovakia 6-5 to take fifth place of the men's hockey tournament at the 2005 Winter Universiade with a final record of 4-2-0.
In the shootout session, Mike Rice of London, Ont. and Scherban, Canada's first two shooters, beat goaltender Martin Kucera, while only Ondrej Lauko was able to put one past UQTR netminder Dallaire.
Dallaire, of St-Narcisse-de-Beaurivage, Que. faced 41 shots in regulation time in his second start of the Universiade. Kucera stopped 31 of 36 shots.
Ryan Held of London, Ont. Benoit Martin of Montreal, Nick Vukovic, Craig Kennedy of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. and Rice scored in regulation for Canada, which overcame a 3-0 first-period deficit. Rice tied the game at 5-5 during a power play with 50 seconds left in the third period.
Scherban and Jeff Richards, teammates at Lakehead University, both picked up two assists to top all Canadians in scoring in the tournament with 11 and nine points, respectively.
Canada was 3-for-8 with the man advantage and scored once while playing with a man down. Slovakia went 0-for-10 on the power play.
"Dany (Dallaire) is a great goaltender," said head coach Clarke Singer from the University of Western Ontario. "He had one of those off nights against the Czechs earlier this week and we really felt bad for him. To come out today and give that type of performance is great for him, it was a tremendous character effort by Dany."
Singer was also pleased with the character of his entire team throughout the tournament.
"One of the strengths of our team all along has been our character," added Singer. "The guys were down tonight but showed unbelievable heart and effort in the third period. I'm really happy that they were able to finish the tournament on a positive note."
"This was a once in lifetime opportunity," continued Singer. "As I said to the guys, we're going to hurt a little bit for not having a medal and not having a gold, which has been our whole focus. The guys are going to remember the experience and the memories that they gained here the last couple of weeks and it will stay will them for a lifetime."
Slovakia jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead on goals by Ondrej Lauko, Martin Liptak and Andrej Sporina. Ryan Held Western Ontario got Canada on the board at 18:12 of the opening frame with a short-handed marker.
The Canadians pulled within one at 15:56 of the second period on a power play goal by McGill University's Benoit Martin. However, Slovakia restored its two-goal lead just three minutes later when Sporina scored his second of the contest.
Wilfrid Laurier University defenseman Nick Vukovic scored on the power play at 10:30 of the third period to cut the Slovakia lead to 4-3. Craig Kennedy from Western Ontario completed the comeback, scoring his third of the tournament at 14:10.
Slovakia retook the lead just two minutes later when Henrich Ruckay jumped on a turnover and beat Dallaire. Mike Rice tied the game with a power play marker at 19:10, forcing the overtime shootout.
SCORING SUMMARY
First Period:
1. Slovakia - Ondrej Lauko (Andrej Sporina) 1:21
2. Slovakia - Martin Liptak (unassisted) 8:15
3. Slovakia - Andrej Sporina (Lukas Jurik) 15:10
4. Canada - Ryan Held (Jeff Richards) 18:12 sh
PENALTIES:
Slovakia Ondrej Lauko (hooking) 4:27; Canada Shane Nash (hooking) 10:13; Slovakia Peter Vojtek (tripping) 10:28; Canada Murray Magill (holding) 17:04; Canada Nick Vulovic (cross checking) 19:13
Second Period:
5. Canada - Benoit Martin (unassisted) 15:56 pp
6. Slovakia - Andrej Sporina (Martin Groma, Ondrej Lauko) 18:48