Team Canada rebounded from a tentative outing against Switzerland on Wednesday with a dominant 6-1 victory over Slovakia in a world junior pre-tournament contest at Save-On-Food Memorial Centre in Victoria on Friday.
Coach Tim Hunter said he was pleased with the composed effort of his team throughout the game, and he praised the calm performance of goaltender Ian Scott.
B次元官网网址淚t was good from start to finish,B次元官网网址 said Hunter. B次元官网网址淚an Scott played really well and real calm in net. When he had to make a stop he made a stop.B次元官网网址
Scott stopped 23 shots while Cody Glass led CanadaB次元官网网址檚 offence with a goal and two assists.
Scott, who plays for Prince Albert in the Western Hockey League, said he is a naturally calm person, a trait he credited to his mother Catherine.
Maxime Comtois, Jack Studnicka, Nick Suzuki, Ty Smith and Shane Bowers also scored for Team Canada, which notched its second consecutive exhibition victory ahead of the championship that starts Boxing Day. Canada downed Switzerland 5-3 on Wednesday.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 final pre-tournament game is Sunday in Vancouver against Finland.
Photos from the second period between and in at the
B次元官网网址 Victoria B次元官网网址 (@VictoriaB次元官网网址)
Patrik Hrehorcak ended ScottB次元官网网址檚 shutout bid with SlovakiaB次元官网网址檚 lone goal in the third period.
Samuel Hlavaj made 39 saves in the loss.
Hunter said he has yet to decide who will start in goal Sunday, Scott or Michael DiPietro, who was in net against the Swiss.
DiPietro faced 17 shots Wednesday and said he started to feel comfortable in the third period.
Hunter said the two goalies may each play part of SundayB次元官网网址檚 game.
B次元官网网址淭hey both have to get used to playing in Vancouver, in front of that crowd, the building, the boards,B次元官网网址 he said.
Glass, who also scored Wednesday, said the team played consistently and at high speed for the entirety of FridayB次元官网网址檚 game.
B次元官网网址淚 felt we managed the puck a lot better than Wednesday,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淲e were moving pucks quick and the defence did a great job of moving the puck up. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be a lot of fun with this team.B次元官网网址
Canada notched two power-play goals.
Defenceman Evan Bouchard, who assisted on GlassB次元官网网址 power-play maker, said Team Canada will be strong with the man advantage.
B次元官网网址淓veryone out there is a threat and thatB次元官网网址檚 what makes the power play most dangerous,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 just cover one guy because all five guys on the ice have the ability to score.B次元官网网址
Canada opens the tournament against Denmark in Vancouver at Rogers Arena on Dec. 26.
Canada won the gold medal at last yearB次元官网网址檚 championship in Buffalo.
Canada and the Slovaks traded third-period goals, with Smith scoring on a wrist shot from the point and Hrehorcak replying for Slovakia with five minutes left in the contest.
GlassB次元官网网址 power-play goal, with assists from Bouchard and Studnicka, was the only one of the second period.
The Canadians, who outshot the Slovaks 45-23, were threats to score throuhout the game, moving the puck effectively in the Slovak end.
Owen Tippett and Joe Veleno put on several slick stick-handling displays, eluding Slovak players and setting up scoring chances.
Canada dominated the first period, opening a 4-0 lead and outshooting the Slovaks 19-7.
Comtois continued to make his presence felt on the score sheet and all over the ice with several thunderous bodychecks.
Comtois, the only returning player from last yearB次元官网网址檚 gold medal winning team, had two goals and two assists in WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 pre-tournament win over Switzerland.
Studnicka, who also scored Wednesday against the Swiss, scored on the power play Friday on a goalmouth scramble that hit his right skate and beat Hlavaj.
The game started at a furious pace with both teams making sustained end-to-end rushes without a whistle for the first seven minutes.
Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
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