Team Canada eliminated at Spengler Cup

After scoring five  goals Tuesday to defeat Jokerit Helsinki 5-2 in the quarter-finals, Team Canada fell behind 5-0 to HC Geneve-Servette  semifinals of the Spengler Cup.

Canada fought back valiantly, narrowing the gap to 5-4 early in the third, but the comeback fell short as the defending champs went on to win 6-5.

Canada outshot HC Geneve-Servette 15-9 in the final frame but were unable to net the equalizer. The Swiss team also beat Canada in last year’s semifinals. Royston’s Brett McLean was held off the scoresheet and finished the six-team tourney with one goal and one assist in four games.

Salavat Yulaev Ufa defeated HC Davos 4-3 in a shootout in the other semifinal and will meet HC Geneve-Servette in Wednesday’s championship final. TSN is scheduled to televise the game; check local listings for game time.

McLean, who plays for HC Lugano in the Swiss league, is one of eight players who were part of Team Canada at last year’s Spengler Cup. He is an assistant captain this year.

Canada dropped their first game of the Spengler (in Davos, Switzerland) 2-1 to HC Davos on Dec. 26 then beat Medvescak Zagreb 3-1 on Dec. 27. They defeated Jokerit Helsinki 5-2 in Monday’s quarter-finals.

This is the 88th Spengler Cup. It is the oldest professional international hockey tournament in the world. Team Canada has participated in every Spengler since 1984, qualifying for the final 19 times and winning 12 cups (1984, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2012).