Konency's late goal lifts Canada into U-18 World semis

Thursday, 04.24.2014 / 2:42 PM

By NHL.com Staff -  / 2014 NHL Draft blog

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2014 NHL Draft blog
Konency's late goal lifts Canada into U-18 World semis

Forward Travis Konecny scored with 30 seconds remaining in the third period to give the Canadian Under-18 National Team a 3-2 victory against Switzerland in the quarterfinal round of the 2014 IIHF World U-18 Championship on Thursday at Imatra Arena in Finland.

Canada, the defending champion, will face the Czech Republic in the semifinal round of the tournament on Saturday. The other semifinal pits the United States against Sweden. The gold-medal game is slated for Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.

Konecny, a 5-foot-9, 172-pound center from the Ottawa 67's in the Ontario Hockey League, was assisted by Travis Sanheim on the game-winning goal.

Kevin Fiala, No. 3 on NHL Central Scouting's final list of the top European skaters eligible for the 2014 NHL Draft, scored a power-play goal with 4:17 remaining in the third to pull Switzerland into a 2-2 tie.

John Quenneville, ranked No. 23 on Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters, scored off a feed from Jayce Hawryluk 11:58 into the second to snap a 1-1 tie. Goalie Mason McDonald, who is No. 2 on Central Scouting's North American list for goalies, made 19 saves for Canada.

McDonald, a 6-foot-4, 178-pounder from the Charlottetown Islanders in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, made eight saves in the second and five in the third for Canada.

Switzerland opened a 1-0 lead when Dominik Diem scored 7:50 into the first. Jake Virtanen, No. 6 on Central Scouting's final list, pulled the Canadians into a 1-1 tie at 17:28.

 
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