Russians blow out WHL

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

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Russians romp to ADT Challenge win

By Aaron Bell

Vadim Golubtsov scored two goals, including a powerplay marker in the third period to lead the Russian Selects to a 5-1 win over the Western Hockey league in Game 5 of the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge in Cranbrook, B.C. on Wednesday.

Dmitry Sayustov opened the scoring midway through the first period with Golubtsov and Alexander Polukhin also counting before the first period was over.

Luke Schenn of the Kelowna Rockets scored a powerplay goal late in the second period for the WHL before Golubtsov and Anton Korolev counted in the third to ice their first win in nine tries against the WHL over the five-year history of the tournament.

Vitali Karamnov of the Everett Silvertips joined the Russian squad for the WHL games and picked up an assist on Wednesday.

Russian goaltender Stanislav Galimov was outstanding in the game, turning aside 28 saves for the win.

“He played a good game,” Schenn said. “We threw a lot of pucks at him. We got off to a bit of a slow start and maybe got behind the eight ball but we kept getting on him and kept on firing pucks, unfortunately we couldn’t get any more by him.”

Tyson Sexsmith of the Vancouver Giants made 18 saves in the WHL net.

The Russians have obviously sent their best team ever for this event and improved to 2-2-0-1 while the WHL dropped to 0-1-0-0. The series concludes on Thursday in Medicine Hat, Alberta (11:30 p.m. Eastern on Rogers Sportsnet).

The WHL are hoping to get an emotional lift from what is expected to be a rambunctious crowd in Medicine Hat.

“They’re probably the loudest crowd in the Western Hockey league,” Schenn said. “It will be exciting for the guys to play there and hopefully it gives the boys an extra boost.”

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