Kings forwards help Canada West to final

Canada West is going for gold in the World Junior A Challenge and two Prince George Spruce Kings had a hand in the team’s 5-1 semifinal victory over the Czech Republic Friday in Truro, N.S.

Spruce Kings left winger Ethan de Jong assisted on the winning goal for Canada West, scored by Angus Crookshank of the BCHL’s Langley Rivermen, 11:09 into the third period.

Not long after that, Spruce Kings centre Kyle Johnson picked up his first point of the tournament, passing the puck to Dylan Holloway for the insurance goal at 14:02 of the third.

Brent Stapley (Vernon Vipers, BCHL) scored his second of the game late in the period and Brendan Budy (Langley Rivermen) also scored to clinch a berth in the gold-medal final on Saturday (11 a.m. PT, TSN) against the United States.

Jan Kern had the lone goal for the Czechs.

Zach Rose (Victoria Grizzlies, BCHL) made 26 saves to preserve the victory as Canada West outshot the Czechs 37-27.

Earlier Friday, the U.S. defeated Russia 5-0 in the other semifinal to advance.

The U.S. and Canada West are the only teams to win the tournament in the previous 11 years. The Americans, who are the defending champions, have won it seven times and Canada West is a fourtime champion.

Canada West is only the second team in the tournament’s history to advance to the final after losing both of its preliminary-round games. Canada West overcame an 0-2 start in 2011 and went on to win the tournament in Langley. Canada West last won the title in 2015.

The Czechs and Russians meet in the bronze-medal game Friday at 12:30 p.m. PT.