Florida Panthers prospect Grigori Denisenko scored the game-winning and game-clinching goals as Loko Yaroslavl beat Team AJHL 3-0 to win the Gold Medal at the eight-team 2019 Junior Club World Cup at Shayba Arena in Sochi, Russia.
Denisenko opened the scoring with an even-strength goal 14:42 into the first period and later notched an unassisted power-play marker with 4:56 left in regulation to complete the scoring, giving his junior club a second straight title at the tournament.
Loko goaltender Vladislav Okoryak stopped all 22 shots to blank the select team from the Alberta Junior Hockey League that represented Canada.
After not playing in the first two preliminary round games, Denisenko entered the lineup and scored the third goal in a 5-1 win over Swedish side MODO that gave his club a perfect 3-0 record and the top spot in Group A.
Denisenko scored a power-play goal to open the scoring in Yaroslavl’s 3-1 semifinal win over EC Red Bull Salzberg.
A great preseason tuneup for one of Florida’s top prospects is welcome news as we head into September.
Final Standings
Gold: Loko Yaroslavl
Silver: Team AJHL (Canada)
Bronze: Karpat Oulun
Fourth: EC Red Bull Salzberg
Fifth: Team NAHL (USA)
Sixth: Modo Hockey
Seventh: HC Ocelari Trinec
Eighth: HC Davos