Canada eased into last yearB次元官网网址檚 world junior hockey championship.

The host country led its opener against Denmark 3-0 after the first period, 8-0 through two and pumped home six more over the final 20 minutes of a 14-0 romp.

The 2020 curtain-raiser versus a familiar foe should provide a little more drama.

Canada kicks off the under-20 eventB次元官网网址檚 latest instalment Thursday against the United States in a game loaded with skill, speed, familiarity, and perhaps biggest of all, intensity.

B次元官网网址淗eated,B次元官网网址� Canadian defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker, a first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators, said of the rivalry. B次元官网网址漈wo countries that donB次元官网网址檛 like each other playing against each other.B次元官网网址�

Named as CanadaB次元官网网址檚 captain just prior hitting the ice for WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 practice at Ostrava Arena, Barrett Hayton said watching their predecessors go to battle was part of growing up.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what you think about when you think of international competition,B次元官网网址� said Hayton, who played 14 times with the Arizona Coyotes this season before being loaned to the Canadian setup for the world juniors. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檒l definitely be an intense game.B次元官网网址�

The feeling on the other side is, of course, mutual.

B次元官网网址淭hat rivalryB次元官网网址檚 one like no other,B次元官网网址� said diminutive U.S. sniper Cole Caufield, a Montreal CanadiensB次元官网网址� first-rounder. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 country versus country. ItB次元官网网址檚 not just a team versus a team. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be so special to be a part of it.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淣either team likes each other,B次元官网网址� added American captain Mattias Samuelsson, a Buffalo SabresB次元官网网址� prospect and the son of former NHL defenceman Kjell Samuelsson. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檒l be a good game to start.B次元官网网址�

Viewed as the front-runners at the 10-team tournament, Canada and the U.S. sit in a difficult Group B with always-dangerous Russia, the host Czechs and a German program that continues to improve.

Group A, which is being contested in nearby Trinec, includes Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Kazakhstan.

While in years past there would be build-up ahead of the Canada-U.S. showdown B次元官网网址� often on New YearB次元官网网址檚 Eve B次元官网网址� this matchup comes a lot sooner and will give one team a huge edge early.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got a big test right away,B次元官网网址� said Ty Dellandrea, a Dallas StarsB次元官网网址� first-rounder named as one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 alternate captains along with fellow centre Joe Veleno and defenceman Ty Smith. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檒l be good for us to bring our game to the highest level right off the start.B次元官网网址�

The Americans beat their northern neighbours 2-1 outdoors in a shootout in round-robin play in Orchard Park, N.Y., at the 2018 event in their last meeting at the world juniors B次元官网网址� CanadaB次元官网网址檚 only blemish on the way to winning its 17th gold medal at the teenage showcase.

Other recent results saw the U.S. down Canada 5-4 in a shootout to capture the 2017 final in Montreal after also winning 3-1 in Toronto on New YearB次元官网网址檚 Eve.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no putting your foot into the water B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檝e got to go full in,B次元官网网址� said U.S. centre Shane Pinto, another Ottawa first-round pick. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a tough one, but I think weB次元官网网址檙e ready.B次元官网网址�

One of five returning players from last yearB次元官网网址檚 stunning sixth-place finish in Vancouver and Victoria, Hayton said wearing the B次元官网网址楥B次元官网网址� for Canada will be special.

B次元官网网址淚 was just incredibly honoured,B次元官网网址� said the 19-year-old centre. B次元官网网址漎ou idolize the guys who play here.B次元官网网址�

Canadian head coach Dale Hunter said HaytonB次元官网网址檚 professional experience played a factor in the decision.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a leader,B次元官网网址� said Hunter, himself a former NHL captain. B次元官网网址淥n and off the ice heB次元官网网址檚 a character kid.B次元官网网址�

The coach remained coy about ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 starting goalie, but Nico Daws, a netminder with zero international experience prior to this month, is the odds-on favourite to get the nod.

The undrafted netminder was never realistically on Hockey CanadaB次元官网网址檚 radar before a standout start to the season that has him leading the Ontario Hockey League with a 2.06 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage for the Guelph Storm.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been crazy,B次元官网网址� the 19-year-old said of his last four months. B次元官网网址滻 still havenB次元官网网址檛 really taken it all in yet. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of those things B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 know if IB次元官网网址檒l be able to appreciate it as much as I should until I look back.B次元官网网址�

Daws tried to pour cold water on talk of his lack experience on this or any similar stage, but the fact remains along with Joel Hofer, the equally untested presumptive No. 2, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 crease remains a massive question mark.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big setting. Very intimidating, I guess you could say,B次元官网网址� Daws said. B次元官网网址滲ut IB次元官网网址檓 just there to stop pucks.B次元官网网址�

Hayton, Veleno, Smith, star winger Alexis Lafreniere and blue-liner Jared McIsaac were all part of the Canadian team that went home bitterly disappointed from last yearB次元官网网址檚 tournament after falling to Finland in the quarterfinals B次元官网网址� a feeling they want no part of here in the Czech Republic.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think there are any words needed,B次元官网网址� said Hayton, whose team faces Russia in another headline-grabber Friday. B次元官网网址漌e all have that fire inside of us.B次元官网网址�

The Americans, meanwhile, are equally motivated after losing the 2019 gold medal to the Finns with less than 90 seconds to play in regulation.

B次元官网网址淟ast year was a heartbreaker,B次元官网网址� said Samuelsson, one of five returnees. B次元官网网址淭hat feeling that you had, you donB次元官网网址檛 want it again.B次元官网网址�

Both the U.S. and Canada are sick of practising and playing exhibition games.

ItB次元官网网址檚 time for one to pen the rivalryB次元官网网址檚 latest chapter.

B次元官网网址淭his is what you drive for,B次元官网网址� Hunter said. B次元官网网址漈heyB次元官网网址檙e a good team, weB次元官网网址檙e a good team. ThatB次元官网网址檚 whatB次元官网网址檚 going to make it a heck of a hockey game.

B次元官网网址淵ou want that adrenaline. You want to be in the action. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what itB次元官网网址檚 all about.B次元官网网址�

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

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