Trevor Zegras had a goal and an assist -- after saying before the game that Team Canada goaltender Devon Levi and his teammates hadn’t been tested early, too boot -- and Alex Turcotte had their other marker in the relatively dominant performance.
The United States got on the board late in the first, capping off a stretch of domination in the Canadian zone that led to Turcotte redirecting a shot in front of Levi to put his squad ahead 1-0 with 6:35 remaining in the period.
The U.S. outshot Canada 13-9 in the opening frame despite a late penalty that gave the tournament hosts a handful of chances in the final five minutes.
Canada needed a fast start to the second period, but it was Zegras who made it 2-0 picking up the puck at the side of the net on a funny bounce off the boards and flipping a shot past Levi only 25 seconds in.
Bowen Byram nearly got one back shorthanded, breaking in shorthanded with 11 minutes gone in the second and ringing a shot off the post behind Knight.
Canada came on hard in the second half of the period but despite a further handful of chances couldn’t get a shot home, and the U.S. would go into the third with their two-goal edge.
The third was saw more chances for Team Canada, but in the end, Knight would make 34 saves -- including a breakaway stop on Connor McMichael with just over two minutes to play -- and the U.S. would hold on for the win.
Levi turned aside 23 shots in taking his only loss of the tournament.
Moose Jaw Warriors general manager Alan Millar was a member of the Hockey Canada management team for the U20 program for the tournament.
