U.S. Juniors explode, crush Norwegians 19-1

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – The United States scored 10 goals in the first period and eight more in the third to rout Norway 19-1 on Tuesday at the World Junior Championships.

In the other afternoon game, Canada scored four times in the first period and goaltender Trevor Kidd made 37 shots in a 5-1 victory over Finland.

American Doug Weight, the New York Rangers’ No. 2 pick in last June’s entry draft, led the onslaught with two goals and six assists. Ted Drury scored two goals and five assists, with defenseman Pat Neaton and forward Keith Tkachuk adding three goals each.

Trent Klatt and Chris Gotziaman each scored twice and Jim Storm, Derek Plante, Mike Doers, Aaron Miller and Bill Lindsay had the other goals for the United States (2-2-1).

The 19 goals set a tournament record for the U.S. team. The previous record was set in 1987 when the United States beat Poland 15-2.

Norway’s starting goaltender, Morten Kristoffersen, allowed eight goals on only 14 shots before being replaced late in the period by Oyvind Sorli, who was beaten twice before the end of the period.

The overmatched Norwegians (0-5-0) managed only five shots on American goalie Mike Heinke in the opening period but tightened up their defense in the second period, killing off two penalties early in the period without allowing a single shot on goal.

Klatt added to the Americans’ lead with his first goal, but Norway broke up Heinke’s shutout bid on Arve Jansen’s tip-in late in the period.

Norway collapsed in the third, giving up eight more goals to the Americans, who outshot them 43-12.

Mike Sillinger, Patrice Brisebois, Mike Craig and Pierre Sevigny gave Canada (4-0-1) an early 4-0 lead over the Finns (3-2-0), who piled up points against the weaker countries but seemed without much spirit against Canada.

Kidd was especially sharp in the first two periods. Tommy Kiviaho scored Finland’s only goal at 17:58 of the second period.

Sillinger, a No. 1 draft choice of the Detroit Red Wings who plays for Regina of the Western Hockey League, batted in a loose puck 1:34 into the game and Brisebois, a defenseman taken 30th overall by Montreal in 1989, gave the defending champions a 2-0 lead at 7:14 when he scored on the power play.

Kidd, Calgary’s No. 1 pick last June, stopped Vesa Viitakoski on a breakaway in the first period. He also foiled Tero Lehtera, Mika Alatalo and Janne Gronvall on excellent scoring chances.

Mike Craig, on loan from the Minnesota North Stars, made it 3-0 at 18:14 with a shorthanded breakaway and less than a minute later, Sevigny, Montreal’s third-round choice in 1989, knocked the puck out of the air and into the net for a 4-0 lead.

Kris Draper, who started the season with the Winnipeg Jets, ended Finland’s comeback hopes by scoring 56 seconds into the third period.