There’s added local flavor on the ice in Helsinki, Finland today at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Erie native Keith Kaval is officiating today’s game between host Finland and Slovakia. Former Erie Otters goaltender Jaroslav Janus is on Slovakia’s roster, but he’s scratched for this game. He has an 0-2 record, 3.00 goals-against average and .875 save percentage in two games in the tournament.
Former Otters captain Ryan O’Reilly, a forward with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, is playing for Canada. He has a goal and three points in seven games.
UPDATE: Kaval will travel to Stockholm, Sweden to officiate in the tournament’s medal round.

Erie Otters center Connor McDavid was held without a point for the first time in six games at the IIHF U18 World Championship in Sochi, Russia. Yet the Canadians still beat Finland 3-1 in the semifinals today to earn a spot in Sunday’s gold-medal game against the United States, which beat Russia 4-3 in the other semifinal.
Canada will play for the U18 title for the first time since winning in 2008. McDavid, who had hat tricks in his previous two games, still leads all players with eight goals and 14 points. He’s tied for the lead with six assists. He already has set Canadian records for goals and points in this tournament.

Erie Otters center Connor McDavid’s second straight hat trick led Canada to a 6-0 quarterfinal win Thursday in the IIHF U18 World Championship in Sochi, Russia. Canada (5-0) moves into today’s semifinal matchup against Finland, with the United States and Russia in the other semifinal. Meanwhile, McDavid added to his tournament-leading totals of eight goals, six assists and 14 points after netting a hat trick in a 6-0 win against Sweden in the final preliminary-round game Tuesday. He already has set Canadian records for goals and points in this tournament with as many as two goals left to play.

BRNO, Czech Republic – Erie Otters defenseman Adam Pelech has to settle for a chance to win a bronze medal at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship. Canada lost to the undefeated United States 2-1 Friday in the semifinals, setting up a third-place matchup against Finland on Sunday at 6 a.m. The U.S. will face unbeaten Sweden, a 7-3 semifinal winner against Finland, for the gold medal Sunday at 10 a.m.
Pelech had no points, one shot on goal and two penalty minutes against the U.S. He has no points, eight shots and eight penalty minutes in six games at the tournament. Owen Sound’s Gemel Smith scored Canada’s lone goal, which tied the score at 1 late in the first period. The U.S. scored the winning goal 6 minutes, 26 seconds into the third against Sault Ste. Marie’s Matt Murray, stopped 25 of 27 shots.

BRECLAV, Czech Republic – Erie Otters defenseman Adam Pelech and Canada defeated Russia 4-2 Thursday in the quarterfinals of the IIHF World Under-18 Championship on Thursday.
Pelech had no points, one shot on goal and two penalty minutes for Canada, which faces the unbeaten United States in the semifinals Friday at 1 p.m. in Brno, Czech Republic. Canada lost to the U.S. 5-3 in the final preliminary-round game Tuesday.
Windsor’s Kerby Rychel scored two goals against Russia. Sault Ste. Marie’s Matt Murray stopped 28-of-30 shots. Finland beat Germany 8-0 in Thursday’s other quarterfinal, setting up a semifinal matchup against unbeaten Sweden Friday at 9 a.m.

BRECLAV, Czech Republic – Erie Otters defenseman Adam Pelech and Canada face Russia today at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the IIHF World Under-18 Championship. Canada finished third in Group A with a 2-2 record following a 6-2 win against Czech Republic on Monday and a 5-3 loss to the United States on Tuesday. Pelech had no points, six shots on goal and four penalty minutes in those four games.
The Canada-Russia winner faces the U.S., which won Group A with a 4-0 record, in the semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. in Brno, Czech Republic. Finland and Germany meet in today’s 3 p.m. quarterfinal. The winner plays Group B champion Sweden in Friday’s 3 p.m. semifinal in Brno.

BRECLAV, Czech Republic – Erie Otters defenseman Adam Pelech and Canada fell to Finland 4-2 Saturday in their second preliminary-round game at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship.
Pelech had no points and two penalty minutes, while Windsor’s Kerby Rychel scored a goal.
Sault Ste. Marie’s Matt Murray allowed all four goals on 39 shots for Canada, which faces host Czech Republic on Monday at 10 a.m. in Brno, Czech Republic.

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Mercyhurst alumnus Meghan Agosta leads her native Canada into today’s gold-medal game against the United States at the IIHF Women’s World Championship. The game is set for 7 p.m. at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
Agosta has three goals and five points in four games. Former Laker Vicki Bendus and current Mercyhurst senior Bailey Bram have one point apiece for Canada.
Canada beat Finland 5-1 in the semifinals, while the U.S. trounced Switzerland 10-0 in the other semifinal.

BRNO, Czech Republic – Erie Otters defenseman Adam Pelech and Canada opened the IIHF World Under-18 Championship with a 6-1 win Thursday against Denmark. Pelech, an assistant captain, had no points, two shots on goal and two penalty minutes.
Windsor’s Kerby Rychel had a goal and assist for Canada, which returns to action Saturday at 10 a.m. against Finland. Oshawa’s Scott Laughton and Owen Sound’s Gemel Smith had a goal apiece. Sault Ste. Marie goaltender Matt Murray stopped 15-of-16 shots.