NYE Round-Up: USA Thumps Canada, Warriors Trip Pats, Fiesta Bowl

OTTAWA – Canada’s parade to the penalty box started midway through the first period.

It never really stopped.

And that string of undisciplined play cost the host country dearly on New Year’s Eve at the world junior hockey championship.

Danny Nelson scored the winner in the third period and Trey Augustine made 38 saves as the United States beat Canada 4-1 to take Group A. The Canadians allowed three goals off seven American man advantages Tuesday on a frustrating, heated night for the 20-time gold medallists.

“I can’t address it — they know it,” head coach Dave Cameron said of the team being unable to walk the officiating line. “They know the penalties are penalties. They have to decide. It’s simple as that.” 

“It’s an individual thing, it’s a character thing,” continued Cameron, who liked his group’s game at even strength. “They have to decide … pretty sure they will. They’ve been dangling there, and they really got burned tonight. I think lesson learned.” 

Cole Hutson and Cole Eiserman added a goal and an assist each for the Americans. Ryan Leonard scored into the empty net to ice the chippy affair.

“We’re not here to beat Canada tonight,” Augustine said. “We’re here to win a gold medal.” 

Bradly Nadeau replied for Canada, which got 24 stops from Carter George. 

“You can say as much as you want,” Canadian captain Brayden Yager said of the penalties. “It’s not going to change unless we actually do something about it. 

“We’ll be a lot better.” 

Canada, which is looking to rebound after a disastrous fifth-place showing last year, finished third in the pool and will face Czechia in Thursday’s quarterfinals. The Americans get Switzerland. 

The other matchups will see Group B winners Sweden take on Latvia, and Finland square off with Slovakia. 

(Canadian Press)

WHL

WARRIORS 4 PATS 2

MOOSE JAW, Sask. — Ethan Semeniuk and Pavel McKenzie each scored two power-play goals and the Moose Jaw Warriors beat the visiting Regina Pats 4-2.

Netminder Josh Banini stopped 35 of 37 shots fired at him in the Warriors’ (9-21-3-1) net. Brayden Schuurman and Aiden Ziprick each chipped in with two assists.

Zach Moore and Caden Brown scored for the Pats (9-19-4-2), who outshot the hosts 37-24.

The Warriors went 4-for-5 on the power play, while the Pats were 0-for-5.

Elsewhere in the Dub on Tuesday:

VANCOUVER 7 VICTORIA 1

Tyus Sparks scored the only goal of a three-round shootout and the visiting Vancouver Giants rallied from a 5-1 deficit to defeat the Victoria Royals 7-6 in a Western Hockey League matchup on Tuesday at Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena.

The teams will play again on Wednesday at Langley Events Centre, the home of the Giants.

Tyler Thorpe scored twice for the Giants (17-13-4-0) and Mazden Leslie chipped in with three assists as the visitors trailed 4-1 after the first period and 6-2 heading into the third.

Brett Olson, Cameron Schmidt, Jaden Lipinski and Tyson Zimmer added singles for the Giants, who outshot the Royals 33-20, including 16-1 in the third period.

Teydon Trembecky scored three goals for the Royals (17-11-3-4), while Markus Loponen had a pair. Logan Pickford netted a single and Brayden Boehm chipped in with three assists. Cole Reschny had two helpers.

The Giants went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Royals were 0-for-2.

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WILD 6 ROCKETS 1

WENATCHEE, Wash. — Kenta Isogai, Caelan Joudrey and Maddix McCagherty all had a goal and assist as the Wenatchee Wild grounded the visiting Kelowna Rockets 6-1.

Eastyn Mannix, Dawson Seitz and Lukas McCloskey also scored for the Wild (13-17-3-1), who were outshot 30-26. Evan Friesen chipped in with two assists.

Hiroki Gojsic scored for the Rockets (13-17-2-1).

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SILVERTIPS 7 WINTERHAWKS 3

PORTLAND, Ore. — Dominik Rymon had two goals and an assist and the visiting Everett Silvertips beat the Portland Winterhawks 7-3.

Lukas Kaplan, Shea Busch, Landon DuPont, Tyler MacKenzie and Jesse Heslop also scored for the U.S. Division-leading Silvertips (28-5-2-1), who outshot the hosts 36-30.

Kyle McDonough, Josh Zakreski and Diego Buttazzoni scored for the Winterhawks (20-13-2-0).

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CHIEFS 4 AMERICANS 0

KENNEWICK, Wash. — Rasmus Ekstrom had a goal and assist and Dawson Cowan made 33 saves to post the shutout as the visiting Spokane Chiefs blanked the Tri-City Americans 4-0.

Chase Harrington, Sam Oremba and Hayden Paupanekis also scored for the Chiefs (24-12-0-0), who outshot the hosts 38-33.

Netminder Lukas Matecha stopped 34 of 38 shots directed at the Americans’ (19-11-2-1) net.

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COUGARS 6 THUNDERBIRDS 4

SEATTLE, Wash. — Riley Heidt scored twice and added an assist as the visiting Prince George Cougars defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 6-4.

Evan Groening, Patrick Sopiarz, Aiden Foster and Terik Parascak also scored for the B.C. Division-leading Cougars (21-9-3-2), who outshot the hosts 38-31.

Nishaan Parmar, Braeden Cootes, Hayden Pakkala and Kazden Mathies scored for the Thunderbirds (11-22-2-1).

FIESTA BOWL

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Drew Allar threw three touchdown passes and No. 5 Penn State bottled up Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty for a 31-14 win over No. 8 Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, earning a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.