Canada West lost its third-ever World Junior A Hockey Challenge final to the United States on Sunday.
The U.S. defeated Canada West 6-3 in the gold-medal final at Yarmouth, N.S. behind a four-point performance by tournament MVP Vince Hinostroza.
Hinostroza scored a pair of goals in the championship win and finished with a tournament-high six markers.
Burnaby's Brandon Morley, playing in his second consecutive world jr. A competition, put the west entry into a momentary 3-2 lead midway through the second period with his first-ever goal of the tournament.
The Americans replied with two late goals later in the frame to retake the lead for good.
Morley was recently traded from the B.C. Hockey League's Surrey Eagles to the Coquitlam Express.
The win was the fourth time in the last five years that the United States has won the Jr. A Challenge.
It was also the third win in the championship final over Canada West in that span.
The west entry is the only other representative team to win the Challenge banner, taking first place in the inaugural final over a Canada East squad in 2006 championships held in Saskatchewan.
West defended its title in 2007 and also won again, it's third-ever title, last season.
West edged Canada East 1-0 to advance to the final.
Jonah Imoo of Surrey, who was named to the tournament all-star team as the top goalie in the six-team competition, stopped 27 shots in the loss.
Forward Wade Murphy of Victoria and Richmond defenceman Troy Stecher were also named to the all-tournament team along side Hinostroza and assist leader Ian Brady from the U.S. and Switzerland forward Sandro Zangger.
In pre-tournament play, Canada West edged the Americans 4-3 in a shootout on a successful penalty shot by former Northwest Giants forward Alex Kerfoot.
In that game, the U.S. outshot Canada West 5033, including 22-6 in the third period.
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