The men’s team won the silver medal following a tough 6-4 loss to Slovakia in the final game.
The Slovaks, who claimed their third straight world men’s championship, scored with 1:55 to go in regulation time for the win. Canada had erased a three-goal Slovakian lead before surrendering the winning goal, then gave up an empty-netter,
Marcus Power of St. John’s had one of Canada’s four goals. He finished the tournament with nine points (3G, 6A) and as the Canadian’s second leading scorer.
Patrick O’Keefe of Mount Pearl and Brad Yetman and Jordan Escott of St. John’s picked up assists in the championship game.
Other Newfoundlanders on the Canadian squad were Jim Babij and Nathan Yetman of St. John’s, Kevin Reid of Norman’s Cove and head coach Ian Moores of Bay Roberts.
“We represented the country proudly and well,” Moores told the federation’s website.
“It’s disappointing to fall short. Overall, I think we had a good tournament, but going home without the trophy certainly sucks.”
O’Keefe came away from the tournament with an individual honor, having been named an all-star defenceman.
The Canadian women’s squad — with six Newfoundlanders on the team — won a bronze medal Saturday, beating Slovakia 5-0.
Canada, which had lost 3-2 to the United States in a semifinal, had entered the tournament as two-time defending champion.
On the Canadian team were Kristen Cooze of Kippens, Amanda Kean of St. Anthony, April Drake of St. John’s, Chloe Tinkler of Wabush and Dawn Tulk of Port Saunders. Team manager Tom Walsh hails from Clarenville.
Cooze was the named the tournament’s top defender.
The federation will stage a world championship in metro St. John’s next year, with the world juniors set for here next summer.
