Warriors’ Hunt, Team Canada fall to Russia in Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal game

Alexandr Pashin scored the eventual game-winning goal 8:38 into the third period to give Russia a 3-2 victory over Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Daemon Hunt and Team Canada in the final of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Saturday.

The goal was Pashin’s second of the game after he gave Russia a 1-0 lead with the lone goal of the first period 3:45 into the contest.

Quinton Byfield of the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves got Canada on the board with a power play marker 3:03 into the second, but the 1-1 tie would barely last five minutes before Vasili Ponomaryov gave Russia back the lead at the 8:09 mark.

Pashin then added his game winner midway through the final frame before Jean-Luc Foudy of the Windsor Spitfires pulled Canada within one with 4:59 to play.

Despite the final score, Canada dominated play, outshooting Russia 37-13 in the contest, including 10-3 in the second period and 13-3 in the third. Russia’s Yaroslav Askarov was more than up to the task, though, with his 35 save performance including a handful of highlight reel stops in the two minutes as Canada pressed for the tying goal with their net empty.

Dylan Garand of the Kamloops Blazers turned aside 19 shots in the Team Canada goal.

Hunt saw action in each of Canada’s five games at the tournament in Piestany, Slovakia but was held off the scoresheet offensively and didn’t take a penalty.

Canada has now won 26 medals in the 29-year history of the tournament, with 22 gold, three silver and one bronze.

Earlier Saturday, Team Sweden and Moose Jaw Warriors prospect Jesper Wallstedt won bronze with a 5-1 win over Finland.