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World Junior A Challenge: U.S. wins gold again, Canada West gets bronze

Jeff Wight’s third-period goal was the game-winner for Team Canada West in a 5-3 triumph over Switzerland.

Jeff Wight’s third-period goal was the game-winner for Team Canada West in a 5-3 triumph over Switzerland, delivering them the bronze medal at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge  (WJAC) in Yarmouth, N.S. on Saturday.

Wight, the Merritt Centennials forward, also had an assist on Penticton Vees defenceman Paul Stoykewych’s goal in the second that made it 3-0 for Team Canada West.

Switzerland rallied with three straight and tied it with under seven minutes to go in the game.

But Wight replied at 17:41 of the third and Dylan Hollman iced it on a goal with 12 seconds remaining.

Jesse Jenks of the Prince George Spruce Kings played every game for Team Canada West and made 21 saves to earn the win over Switzerland. Jenks wound up 3-1 at the event making 109 saves on 121 shots.

In Sunday’s gold-medal game, Team U.S.A. Captured its second gold medal with a 4-1 win over Russia.

Nick Schmaltz of Team U.S.A. Set a WJAC tournament record with 12 points, topping the previous record shared by Kyle Turris (2006 in Yorkton) and Mike Connolly (2007 in Trail).

The U.S., which won its fifth gold medal, outshot Russia 29-17 with Team Russia goalie, Maxim Tretiak, grandson of Soviet gret Vadislav Tretiak, making 25 saves.

With files from bchl.com