(Word count is 910. Been a busy bee on the site lately, but c'mon, it was my players first goal on an international level, I had to write about it!)

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The British Isles Jr. team reversed a 3-game losing streak in fine style today in the World Junior Championships, pummelling the United States juniors 6-1 in a one-sided affair. The much-needed win puts them back in the hunt for a first place spot in Group B with a 4-1-3 record in 8 games.

The game started with a good deal of trash talk and banter between the two teams in the pre-game skate, with several people taking exception to members of the other team skating over the red line. Within 5 seconds of the puck dropping, a fight started up between Jerry Larry and Xena, who battled to a hard-fought draw to start the proceedings. The fight galvanized proceedings a bit, with some end-to-end action and both teams getting some chances. The deadlock was broken by Winnipeg Jets draftee Nick Brain, who got an outlet pass off a faceoff win, skated past a stumbling Leopold Lockhart, and improbably found himself 1-on-1 with Aleister Cain, beating him with a high wrister to open the scoring.

It was Nick Brain's first goal for his country, and he celebrated it with some relish in the corner with his teammates, with Rainbow Dash joining in late after heading over to the US net to retrieve the puck for his rookie linemate.

"I've had an amazing few days and this goal sorta caps it off for me." said a jovial Brain in the post-game presser. "The fact I get to represent my country is awesome, I'm a first-round pick in the SHL for a great team....... and now I have my first goal for the British Isles. Things are going great for me!"

The US bench bosses were furious with the defensive breakdown, as Lockhart slipped on a divot in the ice and his defensive partner Chuck Crutchfield was caught by surprise and couldn't get back in time. Nick seemed to elude his checks and got an easy break on Cain that surprised everyone in the building.

Team USA tried to get back into it, but found the pace of play going mostly towards their net. Troy Reynolds almost finished a good passing play with a slapshot goal, but his shot hit the post and bounced harmlessly away. USA had a pair of powerplays in the latter half of the period, but could barely generate pressure on either of them, adn the period ended with the USA down 1-0.

After killing off the remainder of the Jimmy Slothface boarding call towards the end of the first, the British went to work. Olin O'Dowd pounced on a turnover in the neutral zone from Michael Fox and got a 3-on-2 going the other way that was finished by a shortside wrister from Mika Mayfield that found the back of the net, making it 2-0 for the British.

The US got one back midway through the second, getting a powerplay out of a Griffith Cadwalader hooking call. The US managed a period of sustained pressure long enough for Bernard Freeman to score from the slot with a screened wrister to make it 2-1.

The US pressed hard and had most of the play in the second, but were critically undone by a tripping call from Lillie Jacobs towards the end of the period. Jimmy Slothface had a shot blocked by Slip McScruff, but the puck went straight to Rainbow Dash on the other point, who fired a shot that was deflected by Carlo Russo past Cain and in to put the British up 3-1 going into the 3rd period.

The tide of the game had shifted completely to the British at this point and the 3rd period was a romp. Griffith Cadwalader scored with a wrister cutting in from the faceoff circle. Zena scored to make it 5-1, deflecting a Mika Mayfield shot after a nice solo rush. This goal led to Aleister Cain being pulled for backup Vivian Leblanc, but the outcome didn't change, as Cadwalader scored his second of the game to complete the damage, retrieving a loose puck from a blocked shot and wristing it past Leblanc from the slot.

Bobby Sharp had the last chance to restore a little pride for the US, but his clever shot after a quick passback form Michael Fox on a 2-on-1 was stopped by Cedric Robinson with a great glove save and the game ended shortly afterwards.

Overall, it was a much-improved showing for the British, after a couple close losses and a heavy 6-3 defeat to Sweden had their position in Group B in some doubt. Cadwalader, Mika Mayfield, and Carlo Russo were named the 3 stars of the game, and had able support with multi-point efforts from Rainbow Dash and Jimmy Slothface. The team also has to be happy that their young power forward Nick Brain got off the blocks forthem, as he figures to be an important piece for the national team going forward. Cedric Robinson also got some well-deserved plaudits, as the rock-solid Buffalo Stampede draftee stopped 28 of 29 and looks ready for his big-league callup next season.

The next game for both teams will be a rematch on Day 13 of Round Robin play, and it will be interesting to see how the Americans respond from that drubbing......

Former Agent of Nick Brain: Center/Right Winger -   

Cain will get his revenge in the medal rounds. And it will be sweet

Aleister Cain - S42-S57
HOF GOALIE- CLASS OF S60- SECOND BALLOT
S54 CHALLENGE CUP
S54 RAZOV

Ville Kurri - S57-S70
BEST SMJHL DEFENSIVE FORWARD S60
That's pretty much it

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Congrats on the first international goal dude!