UFA, Russia – Canada’s National Junior Team has advanced to the semifinals at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ufa after finishing first in Group B with a perfect 4-0 record in the preliminary round.
 
Canada concluded round robin play Monday with a 4-1 win over Russia. Dougie Hamilton (Toronto, Ont./Niagara, OHL), Mark Scheifele (Kitchener, Ont./Barrie, OHL), Jonathan Drouin (Huberdeau, Que./Halifax, QMJHL) and Jonathan Huberdeau (St-Jérôme, Que./Saint John, QMJHL) scored the Canadian goals, while captain Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Burnaby, B.C./Oklahoma City, AHL) added three assists.
 
Russia finished second in Group B, while the United States took third place. In Group A, Sweden earned a bye to the semifinals by finishing in first place, followed by the Czech Republic and Switzerland.
 
Quarter-final schedule (Jan. 2, 2013)
 
5 a.m. ET (4 p.m. local)                        Czech Republic (A2) vs. United States (B3)
 
9 a.m. ET (8 p.m. local)                        Russia (B2) vs. Switzerland (A3)
 
Semifinal schedule (Jan. 3, 2013)
 
5 a.m. ET (4 p.m. local)                        Canada vs. Czech Republic/United States
 
9 a.m. ET (8 p.m. local)                        Sweden vs. Russia/Switzerland

Canada has medalled at 14 consecutive IIHF World Junior Championships, including gold medal performances in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, silver medals in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2011 and bronze medals in 2000, 2001 and 2012.
 
For more information on the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_teamcanada.