Tokarski sharp as WHL downs Russians

PRINCE ALBERT, Saskatchewan – Kyle Beach of the Everett Silvertips scored the game-winner and Dustin Tokarski of the Spokane Chiefs stopped 22 shots as Team WHL edged the Russian Selects 2-1 in the finale of the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge before 2,749 fans at the Art Hauser Center on Thursday night.

Zach Boychuk also scored and was selected Player of the Game for Team WHL, who faced a much feistier Russian side in Thursday’s series finale than they did in Wednesday night’s 5-0 victory in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

“They played well,” said Team WHL coach Willie Desjardins of the Russians’ far superior effort in Thursday’s contest. “They made some adjustments in their game, and I though they worked pretty hard.

“We had some chances that we missed, but they had some real good opportunities, too, and we could have easily lost that game,” added Desjardins, whose side outshot the Russians 46-23 in the contest.

After a scoreless first period, Team WHL got on the board first with Boychuk burying a rebound off Colten Teubert’s point shot on the power play just over five minutes into the second period. Beach gave Team WHL some breathing room with a nice individual effort 12:16 into the third period. The Chicago Blackhawks prospect drove hard to the net from the goal line and made a nifty move to slip one past Perchusky on his far side.

Russia finally broke their goalless drought 16:28 into the third period when Vadim Ermolaev beat Tokarski, snapping the WHL’s shutout streak at over 116 minutes.