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| June 24, 2008
By Doug Jones/IIHF website
IIHF Medal round to begin
USA remains undefeated and so does Canada
|  Both USA and Canada go undefeated in the opening round. Team USA had the much harder draw playing against top teams who medaled previously at the Worlds. Canada, has made the qualifications playoffs for the first time in 10 years
The battle for first place in Group B between the Americans and Czechs did not disappoint as the teams entertained the fans in a hard fought game. Ultimately, USA earned the bragging rights after a rollercoaster 7-6 win. The U.S. jumped out to a quick start, netting four goals in the first quarter to climb out to a 4-1 lead. Four different U.S. players scored in the surge. The teams exchanged goals in the second period making it a 5-2 U.S. lead at the half. The Czechs turned the tables in the second half, out-scoring the Americans 4-1 in the third quarter and tying the game at six. Kyle Gouge’s goal at the 40:01 mark broke the deadlock and gave the Americans the 7-6 victory, and more importantly first place in the group. The U.S. will await the winner of the tomorrow’s qualification round game in the quarterfinals on Friday. With the loss, the Czechs finish the preliminary round group in second place.
After a 10-year absence, Canada has returned to the IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship in top form, cruising to its third double-digit win in as many games and earning the right to play in tomorrow’s cross-over game to earn a berth into the Top Division.
Canada's victim today was Japan, which fell 12-1. Once again, Canada built up a solid lead in the first half as Cory Conacher scored two of his three goals in the first quarter, pacing Canada to a 5-1 lead after 24 minutes. Canada continued to dominate after the halftime break, out-shooting Japan, 11-1 in the third quarter alone. In total, Canada poured in another seven goals in the second half. Three Canadians, Jonathon Clelow, Kirk French and Conacher had four points each in the win. Canada will take on the loser of tonight’s Finland-Germany game in the qualification round. The winner will play the rest of the championship in the top division, while the loser will compete in Division I.
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