Championship is Canada’s 16th overall at annual international event
CALGARY, Alta. – Canada’s National Men’s Team has won its 16th Spengler Cup title with a 4-0 win over HC Ocelari Trinec in the championship game Tuesday.
The Canadians claimed their fourth championship in five years by outscoring their opponents 19-2, the fewest goals ever allowed by Team Canada in a single tournament.
“Every year we have a different group of guys, but it’s always so much fun to come here. Sean Burke and Hockey Canada have done such a great job of putting this team together,” said captain Maxim Noreau (Montreal, Que./ZSC Lions, NLA). “It’s great for our team and our families for the Spengler Cup to end with a win and we are going to enjoy it, but it’s really all about wearing the Maple Leaf and playing hard.”
After a goalless first period, Dustin Jeffrey (Sarnia, Ont./Lausanne HC, NLA) opened the scoring on the power play just over nine minutes into the second period. Before time expired in the second, Ian Mitchell (Calahoo, Alta./University of Denver, NCHC) and Kris Versteeg (Lethbridge, Alta./HK Nitra, SVK) added power-play goals of their own – both at five-on-three – to give Canada a 3-0 lead.
Jeffrey finished the scoring for Canada at 4:55 of the third period with his second of the game, while Noreau picked up his third assist.
Zach Fucale (Rosemère, Que./Orlando, ECHL) turned in another stellar performance in the Canadian goal, making 26 saves in his second-straight shutout. He finished with a tournament-leading 0.33 goals-against average and .986 save percentage.
“This team was unreal. We had an awesome group of defencemen and everyone made me look good. I really did not have to do anything special because our team played great, so it was a lot of fun,” said Fucale. “I just tried to stay focused and a few times throughout the tournament I got pretty lucky, but it was such a great experience with a great team.”
Prior to the game, Kevin Clark (Winnipeg, Man./SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, NLA), Fucale and Noreau were named to the tournament all-star team. Clark led the tournament in goals (six) and points (eight).
The win gives Canada the most Spengler Cup championships, one more than host HC Davos. Canada has raised the trophy 16 times since first participating in 1984 (1984, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019).
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Twitter.com/HC_Men.
SOURCE: Hockey Canada
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