First-period goals, defensive performance earns U SPORTS 2-1 victory and series split
2019 U SPORTS All-Star Series
Game 2: December 12, 2019
Ryerson forward Mathew Santos and Alberta forward Trevor Cox scored just under four minutes apart in the first period to lead the U SPORTS All-Stars to a 2-1 victory over Hockey Canada's World Junior prospects on Thursday afternoon at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex.
The win earned U SPORTS a split with Team Canada to close out the Sport Chek World Junior Selection Camp, improving their record to 6-4-1 since a national all-star team began participating in 2015.
Portland Winterhawks goaltender and St. Louis Blues prospect Joel Hofer and Guelph Storm netminder Nico Daws combined to stop 11 of 12 shots playing for U SPORTS. Moncton Wildcats netminder and Edmonton Oilers prospect Olivier Rodrigue along with Peterborough Pets stopper and Minnesota Wild prospect Hunter Jones turned asides 20 of 22 shots in goal for Canada.
Santos opened up the scoring for the U SPORTS All-Stars at 6:45 in the opening frame on the power play with a powerful slap shot from the point. McGill defenceman Nikolas Brouillard and UNB forward Tyler Boland picked up assists.
Just past the midway point of the frame, Cox took advantage of a neutral zone turnover by shoveling a pass from Saint Mary's forward Stephen Johnson past Jones.
Boston College forward and Colorado Avalanche prospect Alex Newhook answered back for Canada 41 seconds later, bringing the game to within one.
For the remaining two periods, U SPORTS limited Canada offensively holding them without a shot for 13 minutes in the middle frame.
Draft eligible forward Dawson Mercer of the Drummondville Voltigeurs nearly equalized for Canada with less than three minutes to go in the second, ringing a shot of the post. But Canada was unable to get any closer.
Team Canada will finalize its roster before taking to the ice at 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic from Dec. 26-Jan. 5, while the U SPORTS regular season resumes with CW, OUA and AUS action from Jan. 2-4
The 2019 U SPORTS University Cup will be held Mar. 12-15 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.