Prince George Cougars goalie Taylor Gauthier made 38 saves in the Team Canada nets and Peyton Krebs scored two goals in a 3-1 quarterfinal victory over Latvia Thursday at the IIHF world under-18 hockey championship in Umea, Sweden.
Krebs (Winnipeg Ice) was credited with the only goal of the second period, an own-goal that was put in by a Latvian defender. Defenceman Braden Schneider (Brandon Wheat Kings) opened the scoring 13:48 into the game.
A power-play goal from Harijs Brants cut Canada's lead in half 10 minutes into the third period, but Krebs ended the suspense in the final minute with an empty-netter for his second of the game.
It was Gauthier's third win of the tournament and he was at his best in the third period in which the Latvians outshot Canada 16-13.
The 18-year-old from Calgary backstopped Canada to a 5-3 win over Finland in the tournament opener and was also in goal for a 7-4 win over Switzerland a week ago Friday.
Canada will play Sweden in a semifinal matchup Saturday (10:30 a.m. PT) in Ornskoldsvik. Sweden eliminated Cougars centre Matej Toman and the Czech Republic with a 4-2 quarterfinal playoff win Thursday.
The United States, 6-0 winners Thursday over the defending champion Finland, will face Russia in the other semifinal. The Russians beat Belarus 6-0 to advance.
The final will be played Sunday at 10:30 a.m. PT.
IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship
Quarterfinal
In Umea, Sweden
Thursday summary
Canada 3 Latvia 1
First Period
1. Canada, Schneider 2 (Tracey) 13:48.
Penalties - Ozols Lat (tripping) 0:56, Tomasino Cda (slashing) 8:33, Jevdokimovs Lat (illegal hit to the head minor, misconduct) 16:59, Tracey Cda (closing hand on puck) 18:04.
Second Period
2. Canada, Krebs 5, 7:34.
Penalties - Legare Cda (late hit) 3:59, Mateiko Lat (slashing) 15:45.
Third Period
3. Latvia, Brants 1 (Vitolins) 10:01 (pp).
4. Canada, Krebs 6 (Zary) 19:40.
Penalties - Holloway Cda (roughing) 1:54, Vitolins Lat (hooking) 5:48, Tracey Cda (interference) 8:06, Holloway Cda (goaltender interference) 8:57.
Shots on goal by
Latvia 11 12 16 - 39
Canada 14 16 13 - 43
Goal - Latvia: Silovs (L, 0-4-0); Canada: Gauthier (W, 3-0-0).
Power plays (goals-chances) - Latvia: 1-5; Canada: 0-4.
Referee - Aaro Brannare, Sergey Morozov. Linesmen - Henrik Haurum, David Obwegeser.
Attendance - 242 at Umea, Sweden.
