Simmonds assists in Canada intrasquad opener

NEWS RELEASES

HOCKEY CANADA

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White Takes Intersquad Opener

Legein’s Three Points Leads White To 3-2 Victory Over Red at Selection Camp

Stefan Legein (Oakville, ON/Niagara, OHL) scored twice, including the game-winner eight minutes into the third period, and added an assist as Team White picked up a 3-2 victory over Team Red in the first intersquad game at the 2008 National Junior Team selection camp on Tuesday night at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary.

Legein took a cross-ice pass from Riley Holzapfel (Regina, SK/Moose Jaw, WHL) and tapped the puck into the open net behind Team Red goaltender Tyson Sexsmith (Priddis, AB/Vancouver, WHL) to provide the winning margin.

Team Red got the early jump on their pale-coloured opposition and it was highly-touted 17-year-old Steven Stamkos (Unionville, ON/Sarnia, OHL) who opened the scoring, finishing off a 2-on-1 with Matt Halischuk (Mississauga, ON/Kitchener, OHL) by beating Team White goaltender Jonathan Bernier (Laval, QC/Lewiston, QMJHL) for the 1-0 lead.

But that lead would last just two minutes, as Zack Hamill (Port Coquitlam, BC/Everett, WHL) took a pass in front from Legein and, after having his original shot turned away, banged his own rebound past Steve Mason (Oakville, ON/London, OHL) to pull Team White even.

Despite Team White holding a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal, the game entered the first intermission knotted up at 1-1.

Both Mason and Bernier were solid in their final 10 minutes of work in the second period, with Mason turning aside all three shots he faced and Bernier stopping all eight that came his way, before giving way to Sexsmith and Leland Irving (Swan Hills, AB/Everett, WHL), respectively.

Hard work along the boards from John Tavares (Oakville, ON/Oshawa, OHL) created the second Team White goal, as the 17-year-old OHL scoring leader forced a turnover, leading to Legein’s first goal of the game, a slap shot from the face-off circle that snuck through Sexsmith just two minutes after the goaltending change.

Just as Team White responded quickly after the Team Red goal in the first period, Team Red who shot back just 3:24 after the Legein goal to pull even.

Zac Boychuk (Airdrie, AB/Lethbridge, WHL) took a pass from Stamkos to the left of Irving and fired a wrist shot that eluded the glove hand of the Team White goaltender, sending the game to the third period tied 2-2 and setting up Legein’s heroics.

The two teams finished even in shots at 23 apiece, but it was Team White that led in the most important category.

The second intersquad game goes Wednesday night at 6:45 p.m. MT at Father David Bauer Arena. From the selection camp, 22 players will be selected to represent Canada at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic.

*** GAME SUMMARY:

First Period Goals: 06:26 RED 16 Steven Stamkos (19 Matthew Halischuk 20 Wayne Simmonds) 08:42 WHT 18 Zach Hamill (14 Stefan Legein 21 Riley Holzapfel) Penalties: 12:13 RED Josh Godfrey (Hooking-2 minutes) 16:13 RED Brad Marchand (Interference-2 minutes) 18:20 WHT 15 Brendan Smith (Hooking-2 minutes)

Second Period Goals: 12:07 WHT 14 Stefan Legein 15:31 RED 23 Zachary Boychuk Penalties: 02:44 RED Shawn Matthias (Hooking-2 minutes) 05:21 WHT Angelo Esposito (High Sticking-2 minutes) 06:27 RED Team (Too Many Men-2 minutes) 07:40 WHT Keaton Ellerby (Hooking-2 minutes) 12:57 WHT Keaton Ellerby (Hooking-2 minutes)

Third Period Goals: 07:46 WHT 14 Stefan Legein (11 Kevin Marshall 21 Riley Holzapfel) Penalties: 05:05 RED PK Subban (Interference-2 minutes) 11:33 RED Steven Stamkos (Hooking-2 minutes)

Goaltenders Team Red 1 Steve Mason On 1/00:00 Off 2/09:43 31 Tyson Sexsmith On 2/09:44 Off 3/20:00 Team White 1 Jonathan Bernier On 1/00:00 Off 2/09:43 31 Leland Irving On 2/09:44 Off 3/20:00 ***************************

Hockey Canada Announces Roster Change at National Junior Team Selection Camp

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada, along with the Canadian Hockey League, announced a roster change at the National Junior Team selection camp on Monday. The selection camp runs at the Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary, AB from December 10-14, 2007.

Forward Nick Spaling (Drayton, ON/ Kitchener, OHL) will not be able to participate in the selection camp after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. Hockey Canada arranged for Spaling’s return to Kitchener on Monday. The roster now stands at 36 players, including four goaltenders, 12 defencemen and 20 forwards. Hockey Canada and the CHL will not be replacing him at the selection camp.

For more information on the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship, or Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp, including red and white rosters and the camp schedule, visit Hockey Canada’s official website www.hockeycanada.ca ***********************************************************