Stars defense prospect Joseph Cecconi will play for a gold medal at the World Junior Championship. Cecconi and the USA topped Dallas prospect Denis Gurianov and Russia 4-3 in a shootout in the semifinals Wednesday in Montreal and will take on Canada for the gold medal. Canada topped Sweden and Dallas prospect Fredrik Karlstrom 5-2 in the other semifinal game Wednesday. Here's an update on Dallas prospects playing at the World Juniors.
Forward Denis Gurianov (Russia): Gurianov scored two goals in regulation and then twice in the shootout in Russia's 4-3 loss to the USA in the semifinals. Gurianov scored on a rebound to put Russia ahead 2-1 early in the second period. He then scored on a breakaway 6:04 into the third period to tie the game 3-3. He was the first and sixth shooter for Russia in the shootout, scoring both times, but the USA won the shootout 4-3 and the game 4-3 to advance to the gold medal game. Gurianov played 25:26 and finished with four shots on goal and a plus-two rating. He has six points (three goals, three assists) in six games.
Gurianov Stats (Russia): | 6 GP | 3 G | 3 A | 6 PTS | +2 | 2 PIM | 16:42 ATOI
Defenseman Joe Cecconi (United States): Cecconi had no points and was a minus-one in the USA's 4-3 shootout win over Russia in the semifinals. Cecconi was the USA's seventh defenseman and logged 18:05 of ice time including 3:14 in the ten-minute overtime. Cecconi has two assists in six games for the USA and is averaging 13:18 of ice time per game.
Cecconi Stats (USA): | 6 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 PTS | +1 | 0 PIM | 13:18 ATOI
Forward Fredrik Karlstrom (Sweden): Karlstrom had no points and no shots on goal in Sweden's 5-2 loss to Canada Wednesday. He was Sweden's 13th forward in the game and saw limited ice time, playing just 3:39. Karlstrom has three points (one goal, two assists) in six games at the tournament.
Karlstrom Stats (Sweden): | 6 GP | 1 G | 2 A | 3 PTS | +3 | 0 PIM | 7:14 ATOI
Defenseman Ondrej Vala (Czech Republic): Vala had no points and averaged 14:56 of ice time in five games for Czech Republic, which was eliminated in the quarterfinals and finished sixth in the tournament.
Vala Stats (Czech Republic: | 5 GP | 0 G | 0 A | 0 PTS | -4 | 0 PIM | 14:56 ATOI
Goaltender Markus Ruusu (Finland): Was the third goaltender and did not dress in any games for Finland, which did not make the playoff round and won its relegation series against Latvia to finish in ninth place at the tournament.
World Juniors Update
Cecconi, USA will play for gold; Gurianov shines in semifinal loss to Americans
© Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images
