Nov 7, 2019 Game 15 - Team Canada vs Team Russia during the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge at the Canalta Centre in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Chad Goddard/Hockey Canada Images)

By Mitch Bach

World U17 Hockey Challenge

Russians spank Canada Black, Canada White eyes up USA in semi’s

Nov 7, 2019 | 10:44 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Cole Sillinger and the rest of Team Canada White are the country’s last remaining hope for a medal.

Chase Stillman scored with 29 seconds remaining in overtime to book Canada White’s ticket into the semi-finals of the World U17 Hockey Challenge, eliminating Canada Red with a 3-2 victory on Thursday night.

Sillinger, who’s collected a team-leading five goals for Canada White, will take on Team USA in the semi-finals on Friday night at the Canalta Centre (7:00 p.m.). The Americans handed Canada White a 6-4 loss in preliminary action earlier this week.

Canada Black is joining Canada Red in the stands following an 8-4 loss to Russia. Canada Black was the only team to go undefeated through preliminary action with three victories in either overtime or shootout.

In what was the second 8-4 decision of the day, following USA’s victory over Finland, Prokhor Poltapov netted the first international hat-trick of his career.

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Russia struck less than five minutes in on their first shot of the contest. Mikhail Berezovkiy finished off a quick attack on the powerplay to give his crew a 1-0 lead.

Poltapov added to the Russians lead at 12:21 of the first period, silencing a Canalta Centre crowd of 1832.

Matvei Nadvorniy continued the Russian scoring parade 3:11 into the second period, and Daniil Lazutin finished off a cross-crease pass from Poltapov on the powerplay to strengthen their lead to 4-0.

Poltapov’s second of the contest to make it 5-0 all but sealed a Russian upset, until Canada Black found life with Sean Tschigurl’s first of the tournament. The Calgary Hitmen rookie snapped a high shot over the glove of Valerii Brinkman and under the bar.

Brennan Othmann capitalized on a Canada White powerplay, finishing off a quick passing play to cut Russias lead to 5-2 with 20 minutes to play.

Momentum appeared to be on Canada Black’s side until Nikita Chibrokov regained control for the Russians, notching his second of the tournament 1:33 into the third to make it 6-2. Jayden Grubbe added a marker for Canada Black on the powerplay, but the damage was far too severe for his team to overcome. Ivan Mekhovov notched Russia’s seventh marker.

Poltapov’s hat-trick marker came on an empty net with 3:41 remaining.

Russia will take on the Czech Republic in semi-final action in Swift Current on Friday night.