Canada Joins U.S. In Junior Semifinals

Christian Dube and Brad Isbister each contributed a goal and an assist to lead Canada to a 7-2 victory over Slovakia on Wednesday in the World Junior Hockey Championships.

The Canadians, coached by Mike Babcock of the Spokane Chiefs, are looking for a record fifth consecutive title. They will play Russia in the semifinal round on Friday.

The United States will take on the Czech Republic in the other semifinal, after the Czechs beat Finland in a overtime penalty shootout after regulation play ended 2-2.

Daniel Briere and Trent Whitfield, also of the Chiefs, combined to put Canada ahead 2-0 early in the second.

Marian Hossa brought Slovakia to 2-1, but Peter Schaefer restored Canada’s two-goal edge with less than 2 minutes remaining in the period.

Slovakia continued to fight back in the third, once again narrowing the deficit to one after Pavol Rieciciar’s goal made it 3-2 in the third, but Canada pulled away with goals by Isbister, Boyd Devereaux, Trevor Letowski and Dube.