He’s from Paradise, NL, and he’s representing a team from western Canada, but there’s nothing puzzling about Zach Rose’s play in goal at the 2017 World Junior A Hockey Challenge ongoing in Truro, N.S.
Rose, 18, has led his Canada West team to one of the tournament semifinal games, against the Czech Republic 8 o’clock (NL time) Thursday night.
The World Junior A Hockey Challenge features the top junior A players in Canada representing Canada East and Canada West. Joining those teams in the tournament are the Czechs, Russia, Switzerland and the United States.
The other semifinal Thursday features Russia and the United States. The winners will meet for the gold medal 3:30 p.m. (NL time) Saturday.
Rose plays in the British Columbia Hockey League, a rookie with the Victoria Grizzlies. The CBR Minor Hockey Association product is 10-10 with the Grizzlies — where he’s a teammate of fellow rookie Alex Newhook of St. John’s — with a 3.17 goals against average and .916 save percentage.
Through three games in the World Junior A Challenge, the 6-0, 180-pound Rose has a 2.07 GAA and .912 save percentage, entering Thursday’s game against the Czechs.
He stopped 18 of 21 shots Wednesday night in Canada West’s 4-3 win over Canada East in the quarter-finals.
Rose, who played in the Don Johnson Hockey League, left Paradise after Grade 10 at Holy Spirit high school to attend Lake Forest Academy outside Chicago.
He spent three years at the prep school before joining the Grizzlies this season. His play in the BCHL has caught the attention of several NCAA Division I scouts.
