Lakehead's Joel Scherban and Western's Jamie Chamberlain recorded 2 goals and 1 assist apiece as they led Team Canada to a 7-1 win over Japan at the Winter Universiade men's hockey championships in Telfs, Austria on Tuesday. Other Team Canada goals came from UQTR's Jean Philippe Glaude, McGill's Benoit Martin, and Western's Mike Rice. Lakehead's Murray Magill added an assist. Japan's goal came from Go Tanaka. Team Canada outshot Japan 47-26.
The win puts Canada's record at 3-1 in Group B play with 6 points good for third place behind the Czech's 8 points and Team Russia's 7 points. Only two teams from each pool advance. So, Team Canada's task is simple on Wednesday vs. Russia; win and they go for the gold; lose and they are out. That game begins at 8:00 pm Austrian time and will be played at the Innsbruck Olympic Ice Stadium; Canada's first game at the hallowed arena.
Western's Mike D'Alessandro had another strong game in the Team Canada net; turning aside 25 of 26 Japanese shots for a .962 save percentage. Lakehead's Jeff Richards was ejected from the game for a Charging call in the first period.
"We got off to a bit of a slow start, the Japanese came out hard which is what we expected," said Team Canada captain Joel Scherban, who had been held scoreless in his last two outings after collecting six points in the first game of the tourney, a 21-1 win over China. "But I think as the game went on we played a little better, got composed and took control of the game."
Scherban leads the Universiade tournament with nine points, (at time of storyCzech stats from their 15-0 win over China had not been added toofficial site)including four goals, while Lakehead teammate Jeff Richards is third with three goals and seven points.
"Russia is a great hockey team, they've been very impressive throughout the tournament," said head coach Clarke Singer of the University of Western Ontario. "It will be a tough battle, but I think every Canadian hockey player would like to wake up in the morning and know they're playing Russia at eight o'clock. It's going to be a very special day for our players."
Canada again drew more penalty minutes; 41 to the Japanese 18. Period scores were 2-0, 5-1, and 0-0.
Game Summary:
First Period:
1. Canada - J.P. Glaude (Joel Scherban) 17:01 pp
2. Canada - Joel Scherban (Craig Kennedy) 18:30 sh
PENALTIES:
Canada Shane Nash (interference) 4:23; Canada Murray Magill (slashing) 8:28; Canada Jamie Chamberlain (roughing) 13:19; Japan Go Saito (roughing) 13:19; Canada Jeff Richards (charging major, game misconduct) 14:20; Japan Hasuki Tamai (tripping) 15:04; Japan Hiroshi Kakuto (hooking) 16:29; Japan Yuta Soyama (interference) 19:10
Second Period:
3. Japan - Go Tanaka (Yuta Soyama) 3:23
4. Canada - Jamie Chamberlain (Craig Kennedy) 4:31 pp
5. Canada - Jamie Chamberlain (Ryan Held, Steve Chabbert) 10:36 sh
6. Canada - Mike Rice (Murray Magill) 13:33
7. Canada - Benoit Martin (unassisted) 15:45 sh
8. Canada - Joel Scherban (Jamie Chamberlain) 19:26
PENALTIES:
Japan Keisuke Toda (interference) 3:49; Canada Benoit Martin (roughing) 9:09; Canada Matt Bannan (holding) 15:01; Canada Peter Cava (elbowing) 16:10
Third Period:
No scoring
PENALTIES:
Japan Ryota Abe (slashing) 2:30; Japan (interference) Takuya Osawa 6:18; Canada Matt Bannan (boarding) 10:35; Canada Peter Cava (slashing) 12:16; Japan Jun Tonosaki (hooking) 13:26
GOALTENDERS
Canada: Mike D'Alessandro (W, 26 shots, 25 saves, 60:00)
Japan: Husashi Kanawaru (L, 38 shots, 31 saves, 40:00); Kyoji Ito (9 shots, 9 saves, 20:00)
POWER PLAY
Canada: 2/8
Japan: 0/9
SHOTS BY PERIOD:
Canad