(amerks.com) — The Rochester Americans exploded for three goals in the second period but Team Canada was able to withstand the comeback and hold on for a 6-3 win over the Amerks on Sunday in their quarterfinal matchup of the 2013 Spengler Cup at Vaillant Arena in Davos, Switzerland.
The loss eliminates the Amerks from the international tournament.
Luke Adam and Phil Varone each notched two assists, while Alex Hutchings, Dan Catenacci and Joel Armia provided the scoring for the Amerks. The goaltending tandem of Nathan Lieuwen and Matt Hackett combined to make 28 saves in the loss, including 11 from Lieuwen, who started in net for Rochester but left the game following the first intermission.
With their pair of assists tonight, Adam (2-2-4) and Varone (1-3-4) each finished the tournament with a team-high four points.
Team Canada was led by a pair of goals each from former Amerk Jacob Micflikier and leading point-getter Byron Ritchie, while Ahren Spylo notched a team-high three assists and former American Hockey League most valuable players Darren Haydar (two assists) and Alexandre Giroux (goal) also chipped in. Chris Mason and Allen York teamed up to make 24 saves.
“I thought we got better every game throughout the tournament,” said Amerks head coach Chadd Cassidy. “I thought it would’ve been easy to fold up after getting down 3-0, especially the way Canada really pushed during the first period. We came back, though, and the guys played together and it was a really good team effort. All in all, I felt like we were making strides in the right direction over these last three games.”
Canada led 3-0 after the first period but the advantage was just 4-3 after the second.
“That is becoming in my mind a trademark of our team,” said Cassidy, referring to his team’s explosive second period. “The same thing happened in our last league game before we came overseas. We’re not a high-scoring team, so like I said, it would have been easy to fold up and go home being down three goals, but the guys stayed with it, they played together, competed hard and I’m proud of them.
“I told the guys after the game that despite the outcome, for us, this was going to be an experience we’re going to remember for the rest of our lives. Despite the scores of the games, we played good hockey over here,” Cassidy added. “I think we can leave here with our heads held high and feel we showed ourselves really well in this tournament.”
