TRURO, N.S. – Semifinal matchups are set for the World Junior A Hockey Challenge.
The United States will face off against Russia on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., followed by the Czech Republic vs. Canada West at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be played at the Rath-Eastlink Community Centre.
In quarterfinal action on Wednesday, the U.S. slipped past Switzerland 3-1, while Canada West edged Canada East 4-3 in overtime.
Canada West 4 vs. Canada East 3 (OT)
Ross Armour tied the game for Canada West with 6:31 left in regulation and won it 42 seconds into overtime.
Armour stripped Canada East defenceman Aidan Girduckis at centre ice and broke in alone before roofing a shot over the glove of goaltender Jett Alexander to send Canada West to a semifinal.
Carter Turnbull and Jacob Bernard-Docker had the other goals for West, which advanced to the semifinals for the 10th time in 12 years. Derek Dicaire, Nick Campoli and Jack McBain scored for East.
West finished with a 37-21 edge in shots on goal.
The loss drops Canada East into the fifth-place game against Switzerland on Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
United States 3 vs. Switzerland 1
The defending champion United States jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead on Wednesday. Tyler Madden scored at 12:25, while Curtis Hall notched a power-play marker with 18 seconds left in the opening stanza.
Switzerland cut the deficit in half early in the second, as Jeremi Gerber scored at 2:02. Paul Cotter scored the lone goal of the third period at 13:31 to ice it for the U.S.
American goaltender Ryan Bischel faced just 15 shots, while Swiss goalie Akira Schmid made 25 saves, including 15 in the first period.
