LANGLEY, B.C. – Alex Kerfoot picked a good time to shine in front of NHL scouts.
With a crowded press box full of scouts looking on, Kerfoot scored a goal and added an assist as Canada West beat Canada East 4-2 in the final of the World Junior A Challenge on Sunday.
“This is definitely the most exciting point of my hockey career so far,” said Kerfoot. “I’ve never done anything like this. It’s pretty special.”
Kerfoot, a 17-year-old West Vancouver native who plays for the Coquitlam Express of the BCHL, gave Canada West a decisive 2-0 lead midway through the second period.
Kerfoot is the son of Greg Kerfoot, the reclusive majority owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer. The younger Kerfoot used to play both hockey and soccer, as well as many others, but opted to focus on the ice a few years ago.
Sunday’s came after he scored the overtime-winner in a semifinal victory Friday over Sweden to put Canada West in the final. He helped Canada West rally to win the tournament after losing the first two games.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for so many of us,” said Kerfoot. “We’re never going to play in something like this again. It’s just amazing to be here with the group of guys that we had and to face the adversity that we did at the beginning of the tournament and come back.
“We came closer as a group as the tournament went on and we bounced back and we did what we came here to do. We came home with the gold medal.”
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Kerfoot stood out before several scouts who crowded the press box at Langley Events Centre. He is also on the radar of U.S. college hockey team. He is considering scholarship offers from Boston College, Harvard and Yale.
“I’ve had a couple offers but I’m not in any rush to commit anywhere,” said Kerfoot, who also has the option of moving up to major junior. “So I’m just going to let it play out.”
Evan Richardson, Carson Cooper – on the game’s lone power play – and Aaron Hadley also scored for Canada West, which was outshot 26-18.
“It’s really special,” said Canada West coach Kent Lewis, who also coaches Powell River of the BCHL. “I think anybody that’s in hockey in this country wants to be involved with Hockey Canada. To be given the head coaching job, I was pretty tickled. We feel the pressure. There’s no doubt. It was a great way to finish.”
Michael Neville and Daniel Milne replied for Canada East.
After an uneventful and scoreless first period, the action heated up considerably early in the second as Canada West took its 2-0 lead and retained a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes before building a 4-1 advantage early in the third.
“It was a tight game,” said Canada East coach Curtis Hodgson, who guides Whitby of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. “We didn’t give them much, then they capitalized on their chances. They jumped out to that two-goal lead where we had to open up a bit. We’re more of a defensive team. We don’t have a ton of offence. So that 2-0 lead was big for them.”
Richardson opened the scoring 1:14 into the second period as he put in Kerfoot’s goalmouth pass on a two-on-none with goaltender Adrian Ignagni at their mercy.
Just over eight minutes later, Kerfoot put Canada West ahead 2-0 as he intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, raced in on goal and deked Ignagni.
“(Kerfoot) is a heck of a hockey player,” said Hodgson. “He’s a dynamic player, very fast, very skilled.”
“He’s got a great flair for the dramatic and he worked hard, and finished what you’ve got to finish,” added Lewis. “That takes a special player, so good on him.”
Neville pulled Canada East within a goal at the 16-minute mark of the second. Mackenzie Weegar’s fluttering wrist shot from the point was blocked and then deflected by Ben Hutton before the puck came to Neville who slid it past Canada West goaltender Sean Maguire.
The only penalty was called in the final minute of the second period as Canada East’s Tyson Spink was called for slashing. With the power play carrying over into the third period, Cooper deflected in Sam Jardine’s point shot in the opening minute of the final frame.
Hadley increased Canada West’s lead to 4-1 before the second period was three minutes old.
Milne brought Canada East with two goals as he swept in a shot from the face-off circle with 5:24 left in the game. But the East could not get any closer.
“That’s the tough thing about this,” said Hodgins. “You’ve got one shot at it. You’re not getting another shot. It’s going to be tough to go back to (the OJHL). Maybe in a couple days, we’ll look back, realizing what we did accomplish. But right now, it hurts.”
Maple Leafs chief scout Dave Morrison said his colleagues were already aware of Kerfoot and he helped his cause.
“I had heard him his name before I got here – put it that way,” said Morrison. “He’s a skilled kid and the guys that are watching here today are going to notice. I’m sure there’ll be some follow-up.”
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