Men's Hockey | 12/12/2018 11:58:00 PM

Box Score
COLWOOD, B.C. -- McGill defenceman Nikolas Brouillard set up the first goal and for the second consecutive year, a member of the Alberta Golden Bears created suspense late between the U SPORTS All-Stars and Hockey Canada's world junior prospects. Third-year forward Luke Philp scored with just 8.1 seconds left in regulation, forcing overtime and eventually a marathon 18-man shootout where Team Canada came away with a 3-2 win on Wednesday night at the Q Centre in Colwood, B.C. The Juniors took the nine-round shootout 4-3.

"We got better as the game went on. In the first period, you are never sure of what to expect, even though we had some returning guys," said U SPORTS head coach Mark Howell of the Calgary Dinos. "I wouldn't say we were nervous, but maybe unsure of the level of play and how hard you have to play. We had really good chances in the second and third periods."

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Boston University forward Shane Bowers tallied the seventh and final goal of an epic shootout. Oshawa Generals forward Jack Studnicka scored both goals for Team Canada in regulation, while rearguard Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds assisted on both scoring plays.
 

In addition to the goal from Philp, UNB Red Christopher Clapperton also found the back of the net for U SPORTS.

"It is great that everyone is getting a chance to see how good our players are. There are great players in our country who play university hockey. All our guys here could play a high level of professional hockey but are choosing to get their education first."
Mark Howell

The Canadian hopefuls opened the scoring six minutes into the game, putting their speed on full display. Frost dished the puck to the far blueline for Studnicka, who split two defenders, broke in alone, and beat Los Angeles Kings draft pick Matthew Villalta through the legs.

Team Canada nearly made it 2-0 on a late first-period power play as 17-year-old Alexis Lafrenière fired off a one-timed shot from the left side, but Villalta got across to deny him.
 

U SPORTS responded with a strong second period, dictating the tempo while outshooting Team Canada 18-11.

Clapperton tied the game less than two minutes into the middle frame as he tapped in the rebound off a shot by McGill defenceman Nikolas Brouillard.

A little over four minutes later, Team Canada restored their one-goal lead. Studnicka collected his second goal of the night, this time on the power-play, finishing off a second-chance opportunity from a shot by Frost.

Subbed in half-way through the period, Prince Albert Raiders goaltender Ian Scott was thrown into the fire in the Team Canada net, facing the heaviest U SPORTS pressure of the night in the late stages of the second period.

Scott held the All-Star squad off the scoresheet until the waning moments of regulation when Philp scooped up a rebound in front of the goal to force overtime.

After a scoreless overtime period, the game went to a marathon shootout. Riley Sheen, Slater Doggett and Hunter Garlent scored for U SPORTS, while Joe Veleno, Frost, Lafrenière, and Bowers countered for Team Canada to secure the win.





Villalta, vying for a spot on the Canadian World Junior roster, went the distance in goal for U SPORTS and made 28 saves.

Vancouver Canucks prospect Michael DiPietro started the game for Team Canada and turned away 18 shots. Scott also made 18 saves in relief.

The 2018 U SPORTS All-Star Series continues Thursday night (9 p.m. Eastern) at the Q Centre. Livestreaming is available on TSN.ca.


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GAME STORY FROM HOCKEY CANADA WEBSITE:

BOWERS SCORES SHOOTOUT WINNER, HELPS NJT HOPEFULS TO CAMP WIN

by JESSICA GOWANS

VICTORIA, B.C. – Jack Studnicka (Tecumseh, Ont./Oshawa, OHL) scored twice in regulation time and Shane Bowers (Herring Cove, N.S./Boston University, HE) added the winner in the shootout, leading Canada's junior hopefuls past U SPORTS 3-2 in the opening game Wednesday night at Canada's National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp.

Bowers' game-winning goal came in the ninth round of the shootout, after the two teams had netted three goals apiece through the first eight. He came in from the left side of goaltender Matthew Villalta (Godfrey, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie, OHL) before snapping a quick shot low to the blocker side.

Studnicka's first goal of the night opened the scoring for Canada; he took a lead pass from Morgan Frost (Aurora, Ont./Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), broke through the U SPORTS defence and beat Villalta.

Villalta, one of three goaltenders at camp, went the distance in the U SPORTS goal, making 28 saves.

Canada had chances to extend the lead in the opening frame, including a power-play opportunity late in the frame that featured several clear chances, but Villalta kept it a one-goal game after 20 minutes.

U SPORTS got on the board less then two minutes into the second period off the stick of Chris Clapperton, but Studnicka regained the lead for Canada less than five minutes later on a man advantage. Frost's initial shot was saved by Villalta, but Studnicka was parked in front of the net and banged in the rebound.

Michael DiPietro (Amherstburg, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) started in net for Canada, and was strong between the pipes, stopping 18 of the 19 shots he faced before being replaced by Ian Scott (Calgary, Alta./Prince Albert, WHL) midway through the second period. Scott also turned away 18 of 19 in his 34 minutes of work.

The one-goal advantage would last until the dying second of the third period; with Villalta on the bench, Luke Philp found the puck off a scramble in front and tucked it past Scott with 8.1 seconds left in regulation.

The two teams traded chances in overtime, but neither could find the back of the net.

Joe Veleno (Montreal, Que./Drummondville, QMJHL), Frost and Alexis Lafrenière (Saint-Eustache, Que./Rimouski, QMJHL) also scored in the shootout for Canada, while Riley Sheen, Slater Doggett and Hunter Garlent replied for U SPORTS before Bowers ended it.

The two teams are back in action on Thursday (9 p.m. ET) in the second of three games at selection camp.