Moose Jaw Generals captain Rhett Gardner scored, but Team West lost, 6-2, to Russia last night at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Team West was keeping pace with the high scoring Russians early in the game.  Russia had just a 1-0 lead after the first period.

Rourke Chartier scored 50 seconds into the second period to tie the game up, but Russia answered with a pair of goals.  Gardner cut the lead to one at 3-2, but that would be as close as Team West would get.

West is 0-2 to start the tournament, they will play Finland on Monday.  Brayden Point and Team Pacific face off with Sweden on Monday afternoon.

15-year-old phenom Connor McDavid had a hat trick for Ontario in their 12-0 route of Slovakia on Sunday.

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Moose Jaw Warrior Morgan Rielly and Team Canada are 3-0 coming into the final day of round robin play on Monday in Ufa, Russia.

Canada took out the United States, 2-1, on Sunday and will play Russia on Monday morning at 8:00am

A win by Canada gives them a bye to the semifinals on Thursday.  A loss and they go to the quarters on Wednesday.

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The NHL and the Players' Association appear ready to get back to the bargaining table.  

The union says the plan is for the sides to meet on Monday.  They would be the first negotiations since the sides met with a mediator on December 13th.  

The NHL and the union talked over the phone this weekend after the NHL made a proposal on Thursday.