Canada Grabs Second Pre-Olympic Bronze Medal in Two Weeks

A week after coming third at the Sochi Hockey Open, Canada has secured a bronze medal after defeating SKA Neva St. Petersburg 4-0 on Thursday.

After getting shutout on Wednesday to SKA St. Petersburg, an early goal at 4:00 would give Canada the lead. Matt Robinson would get the game started on the right foot after potting a rebound on a Ryan Garbutt opportunity, giving Canada the 1-0 advantage.

Canada would further extend their lead over the second-tier Russian club thanks to a 2-on-1 marker by Nick Petersen. At the halfway marker of the game, Petersen took a pass in the neutral zone and flew into the attacking area. It looked like Petersen would go on to make a pass, but instead riffled it between goaltender Konstantin Volkov's legs and in to make it 2-0 for the Olympic hopefuls.

With under two minutes to go in the second, Canada thought they had a third goal. Carlo Coliacavo's point shot would get tipped past Volkov by Paul Szczechura in the slot, but a review of the play showed that the puck was high-sticked and would be waved off shortly after.

Canada would, however, extend their lead to three goals. At the ten minute mark of the third, Derek Roy took the puck from behind the net and sent it out just in front of the crease. Former Washington Capitals forward Andrew Gordon was there to tap in the goal, giving Canada the 3-0.

The bronze medal would be secured in the final stages of the third thanks to another goal. The same line would strike, with Gordon setting up Ryan Garbutt in front, who quickly let a fast wrist shot past Volkov and in to make it 4-0 and to win the bronze medal.

Canada's next pre-Olympic tournament will be the Karjala Cup in Finland in November, with more tournaments, including the Spengler Cup in Switzerland, planned prior to the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.

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