Vesey's Goal Helps US Upset Canada in World Junior Championship Semis

While many of us have been relaxing during our winter break, freshman forward Jimmy Vesey of the Harvard men’s hockey team has been busy on the ice with the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia.

After two exhibition matches before Christmas, USA finished 2-2 in pool play, routing Germany, 8-0, and Slovakia, 9-3, while falling to Russia, 2-1, and Canada, 2-1.

Vesey tallied three assists in the game against Slovakia on New Years Eve.

Having qualified for the playoff round after finishing third in its group with six points in pool play, the Americans defeated the Czech Republic, 7-0, in the quarterfinals.

On Thursday, USA faced off against rival Canada in the semifinals, who had finished undefeated in pool play.

The Americans jumped out to an early lead with two goals in the first period, then another in the third before the freshman forward from Harvard struck to make it 4-0.

Vesey netted his first goal of the tournament, receiving a pass from teammate John Gaudreau of Boston College streaking along the right side, and then beating Canadian goalie Malcolm Subban, cutting the puck across to the left and burying it into the net above the stick side.

USA will face Sweden in the Gold Medal Game Saturday at 8 a.m, the first matchup in the finals between the two squads in tournament history.