After an off-day on Wednesday which allowed for a visit to Red Square and the Kremlin and a 3-0 win over Estonia on Thursday (goal scorers: Brandon Ellement, Costa Cholakis, Neil Dawson) Canada faced it's toughest and most important day of their bandy year on Friday, Feb. 1st.

With two games scheduled, both against their toughest rivals Latvia and the U.S.A, Canada had it's hands full.

Halfway through the day here in the Moscow and Team Canada can report a 7-1 win over Latvia.

Sparked by a goal 30 seconds into the match from forward Matt Lahaie Canada played a solid game and handled the Latvians with confidence. One of the keys for Canada was the continued excellent bandy from star midfielder Brandon Ellement. Ellement scored 4 more goals, which in addition to one from his game with Estonia brings his total for 5 games to 14 goals, leading the B-Pool in goals.

Other goals came from halfback Jason Neufeld on a penalty stroke and Brian Davis on a corner stroke.

Sharp in the goal for Canada was veteran netminder Michael Lintick.

Canada's next action, and final round-robin game, is at 9:00pm Moscow time tonight, Friday Feb. 1st vs. Team U.S.A for the B-Pool Championship.

The winner of the B-Pool will play the lowest placed team in the A-Pool in a relegation match on Sunday to decide who will play in the A-Pool next year.


Additional Notes:

1. Canada is in the "B" pool with Holland, USA, Mongolia, Estonia, Latvia and Hungary.
2. The "A" Pool is made up of Russia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Kazakstan and Belarus.
3. Canada finished 2nd to the U.S.A. in the B-Pool World Championships in Stockholm in 2006.
4. Team Canada is based out of the Sturgeon Creek Community Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
5. Russia is a bandy power and, now, having won the rights to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, it is pushing hard to have bandy added as an official Winter Olympics sport.


Official Tournament Website: http://www.bandy2008.ru/

Canada Bandy's website: www.canadabandy.ca

For more info contact either:

Don Oldcorn
Player/Manager
Canadian Men's National Bandy Team
donnieo@mts.net
         
Morris Glimcher
President
Canada Bandy
204) 925-5641
(204) 925-5624 fax
www.canadabandy.ca