Unice...

[bulldog85]

4/22/07


U.S. Edged by Russia; Settles for Silver

Alexey Cherepanov, whose last-second goal in the semis sent Russia to today’s gold medal game, came up with another big goal today, breaking a 4-4 tie at 11:52 of the third period to lead Russia past the U.S., 6-5, in the gold medal game of the 2007 IIHF Under-18 World Championship in Tampere, Finland.

After Cherepanov’s game-winner, Russia added another as Egor Averin beat U.S. goaltender Josh Unice 5-hole to go up 6-4 at the 17:45 mark.

Unice was pulled with 40 seconds on the clock and, with six seconds remaining, Colin Wilson scored to pull the U.S. within one. Too little, too late, though.

The U.S. had the early lead in this one, going up 2-0 on goals by C.J. Severyn and Vinny Saponari, the latter shorthanded. After Saponari’s goal, at 6:13, Russian goalie Alexander Pechurskiy – who’d only faced three shots -- was pulled and replaced by Vadim Zhelobnyuk.

The goaltending on both sides was subpar in the first, as a total of five goals were scored on 14 shots – seven for each team.

Russia came back from the 2-0 deficit to tie it with goals at 7:44 and 11:33 of the first. The U.S. went ahead 3-2 on a Colin Wilson goal at 18:27, and that’s how the first period ended.

In the second, Russia regained the lead with a pair of goals in the first eight minutes to make it 4-3. The second goal came on a strange sequence of events, as the U.S. thought they had scored at one end, but hadn’t. Meanwhile, the Russians carried the play back up ice -- and scored. The play was reviewed and upheld, as it was ruled that the U.S. did not score – and Russia did. The U.S. would get the next goal, though, tying it up at 4-4 when James vanRiemsdyk beat Zhelobnyuk at the 10:37 mark.

It would stay a 4-4 game for over twenty minutes, but the U.S. would get no closer. Finally, Cherepanov, Russia’s top scorer here and a sure-fire first round NHL draft pick in June, put Russia ahead for good.

The U.S. outshot Russia in the game, 36-24. The shots were tied at 7-7 after the first. In the second, the U.S. outshot Russia, 13-9, and in the third the U.S. held a 16-8 edge in shots.

Unice stopped 18 of 24 shots in the U.S. net. Zhelobnyuk did a good job for Russia, coming in in relief and stopped 30 of 33 in 52 minutes plus playing time.

U.S. scorers: Colin Wilson (2g,1a); James vanRiemsdyk (1g,2a); Jordan Schroeder (2a), C.J. Severyn (1g), Vinny Saponari (1g), Matt Rust (1a), Brennan Vargas (1a), and Cade Fairchild (1a).

[pugeleemugelee]

6 goals on 24 shots is a 75 save %
The level of play in D1 college hockey is way above under 18's . This doesn't look very promising at all.

[Puckhead]

Please check the results from earlier games.
Unice did very well. Unice and Spratt should be a good combo.
Ron and Scott done good getting him.

Vargas is also coming to BG.

[bulldog85]

Unice is just average, Spratt is inconsistent and the coaching is abysmal. The future of this program has not improved.

[BGFan]

Must be why ROI is so high on him...

[hockey fan]

I'm not going to read to much into it one way or the other. You can name plenty of guys that were either supposed to be great at the DI level or weren't expected to anything and turn out the complete opposite.

Let's try not to get too negative on anyone until they get on campus and give us a reason. Damn, there I go being negative again. Point is, give the kid a chance.

[Falcon Fanatic]

I'm not going to read to much into it one way or the other. You can name plenty of guys that were either supposed to be great at the DI level or weren't expected to anything and turn out the complete opposite.

Let's try not to get too negative on anyone until they get on campus and give us a reason. Damn, there I go being negative again. Point is, give the kid a chance.

I agree, give him a chance to prove himself!! Unice will have time to develop and may be a big surprise. Who knows. Things are always different once a kid gets to the D-1 level and faces the kind of competition at this level. Again, give him a chance to prove himself. Every player deserves that!!

[kmabgsu]

Yeah, Paluch, every player does deserve a chance. Let's just hope he gets it. Hopefully the coach likes him as a person or he will undoubtedly get the boot, chance or not.

[MACMAN]

Its going to be a good competition for the starting spot for sure, im looking forward to drooping in on practices and seeing how this develops. I know I dont need to remind any of you, by sigy did not his stride until Jr year, GAry hit his Soph, J.B. my friend from prepschool was Soph to i think, David was a Sohp also...point is if Unice is hot when he gets here, then I'm sure he will have a fair shot...as long as hes not expecting to have anything handed to him, and from reports on his work ethic I doubt that will be a problem.
This team is in great shape, its going to be a good season.