Eberle helps win gold
The Leader-Post
Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008

Jordan Eberle showed off his golden touch on Wednesday.

The Regina Pats' sniper scored two goals and assisted on another, leading Canada to a surprising 8-0 romp over Russia in the gold-medal final at the world under-18 hockey championship in Kazan, Russia. The Canadian team, which also included Pats defenceman Colten Teubert, was primarily made up of players who were out of the CHL playoffs.

It was just the third medal for Canada at the under-18 tournament since debuting in 2002. The Canadians won gold in 2003 and silver in 2005.

This year's squad was guided by former NHL bench boss Pat Quinn, who also won a gold medal as Canada's head coach at the 2002 Olympics.

Under Quinn's direction Wednesday, Canada scored on five of its 10 shots in the first period against the previously unbeaten Russians.

Taylor Hall (Windsor, OHL), Brandon McMillan (Kelowna, WHL), Tyler Cuma (Ottawa, OHL), Brayden Schenn (Brandon, WHL), Corey Trivino (Stouffville, Ontario junior A) and Nicolas Deschamps (Chicoutimi, QMJHL) scored the other goals for the Canadians, who led 5-0 and 7-0 at the respective intermissions.

"The Russian fans, near the end of the game, started cheering for us when we were scoring," Schenn told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. "We were surprised and shocked. Having 10,000 Russians cheer for you is definitely a good feeling. I don't think the Russian players appreciated that, so they were trying to stick up for themselves. But we held our own. That's what we do."

Goaltender Jake Allen turned aside all 29 shots he faced to post his second shutout. He was named the tournament's top goalie, recording a 1.43 GAA and a 94.79 save percentage.

Russia had previously handed Canada its only loss in round-robin play, by a 4-2 score. The Canadians finished with a 7-1 record.

Eberle, Allen and Cody Hodgson were voted as Canada's "three best players" by the coaches in the tournament. Eberle, one of Canada's assistant captains, was tied for third in tournament scoring with four goals and 10 points in seven games.

Teubert, who was utilized as a shut-down defender by Canada, posted one assist and a team-high 30 penalty minutes. He also had a plus-eight rating, which tied him for No. 1 in the tournament.

The Canadian players honoured WHL chairman Ed Chynoweth, who passed away on Tuesday in Okotoks, by wearing 'Ed' stickers on their helmets during the gold-medal game.

NOTE: Chynoweth's funeral service is to be held May 5, 2 p.m., at First Alliance Church in Calgary (12345 -- 40 Street S.E.). In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes can be made in Chynoweth's name to the Foothills Country Hospice Society, P.O. Box 274, Okotoks, AB, T1S 1A5, or to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 -- 29 Str

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