THE 2004 CANADA RUSSIA CHALLENGE

THE 2004 CANADA RUSSIA CHALLENGE
Game 1 - Russia Selects 4, Team QMJHL 3 (Shootout)
Game 2 - Russia Selects 4, Team QMJHL 3 (Shootout)
Game 3 - Team OHL 3, Russia Selects 1
Game 4 - Team OHL 5, Russia Selects 2
Game 5 - Team WHL 6, Russia Selects 0
Game 6 - Team WHL 5, Russia Selects 2

After an embarrassing performance in the 2003 ADT Canada Russia Challenge, the Russians vowed to bring a more competitive team for the 2004 event. The Russians made a strong statement by opening the 2004 event with two shut out wins in the QMJHL.

In game one the Russian line of Alexander Radulov, Mikhail Yunkov and Roman Voloshenko combined for all three goals and seven points to help Russia to a 3-3 tie in regulation time. Radulov tallied in the shootout to give Russia a 4-3 win in the opener. Game two was in front of 9,775 fans at the Bell Centre in Montreal where Radulov worked his magic again scoring two goals, including one in the shootout. The Russian Selects beat Team QMJHL 4-3 to put them at 2-0 for the first time in the history of the 2004 ADT Canada Russia Challenge.

Game three had London Knights forward David Bolland scoring the winning goal early in the second period to help the OHL All-Stars defeat the Russian Selects at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. Team OHL was able to tie up the series two a piece by winning 3-1 in Barrie and 5-2 in Mississauga.

The Western stretch of the series had Eric Fehr of the Brandon Wheat Kings and Andrew Ladd of the Calgary Hitmen each scoring two goals to power Team WHL to a 6-0 win over the Russian Selects in game five in Red Deer, Alberta. Fehr also contributed in the 5-2 win in the final game of the series. This sent the Russian Selects home with a record of 2 wins and 4 losses.