AMHERST – Down 2-0 early in the first period, Canada West battled back to beat Russia 4-2 Friday night at Amherst Stadium.
The 2017 World Junior A Challenge pre-tournament game saw Ethan de Jong score the game winner at 4:08 into the third period, giving Canada West a 3-2 lead off passes from Angus Crookshank and Ryan O’Connell.
Dylan Holloway gave Canada West an insurance goal with 1:15 left in the game off an assist from Jonny Tychonick. The goal was scored on the power play.
Tychonick also gave Canada West their first goal of the game, cutting Russia’s lead in half at 18:28 into the first period of feeds from Brett Stapley and Carter Turnbull.
Crookshank tied the game 2-2 at the 1:21 mark of the second period.
De Jong and Seth Barton assisted on the goal.
Canada West outshot Russia 39-26.
Russia was 0-5 on the power play and spent 18 minutes in the penalty box.
Canada West was 1 for 8 on the power play and spent 12 minutes in the penalty box.
The 20117 World Junior A Challenge runs next week at the RECC Arena in Truro.
The first game is Sunday with Canada West playing the Czech Republic at 3:30 p.m., and Canada East playing Russia at 7:30 p.m.
The tournament wraps up next Saturday, with the gold medal game at 3 p.m
