OTTAWA -- Team Canada was faced with a test to open the World Junior Hockey Championship on Thursday night, and they’d pass with flying colours.
Canada -- including five players from Saskatchewan -- scored in each period and would go on to a 4-0 victory over Finland to open the event in Ottawa.
Carter George of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack turned aside all 28 shots he faced to secure the shutout as Canada faced what’s expected to be one of their tougher round robin games right off the hop.
Saskatoon’s Brayden Yager -- named captain of Team Canada shortly after selection camp -- played four years with Moose Jaw before being traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes a couple weeks prior to the tournament. He opened the event alongside longtime minor hockey teammate and Prince Albert native Tanner Howe, who was traded to the Calgary Hitmen last month after playing three seasons with the Regina Pats.
That duo was joined by Porter Malone (Brampton OHL) on the fourth line to start the game.
Saskatoon product Berkly Catton of the Spokane Chiefs played on Canada’s second line alongside WHL scoring leader Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat WHL) and Luca Pinellii (Ottawa OHL).
Saskatoon-born and Kelowna Rockets defenceman Caden Price played alongside Sam Dickinson (London OHL) on Canada’s second defensive pairings.
The connections to the Bridge City didn’t end there, as Saskatoon Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk played on the top pairing alongside Andrew Gibson (Sault Ste. Marie OHL).
After a largely uneventful first period, McKenna showed everyone what all the hype is about on Canada’s first goal of the tournament.
The Whitehorse product got off a shot in close after a nice pass from Matthew Schaefer (Erie OHL) before gathering up his own rebound and putting a shot past a scrambling defender for the game’s opening goal with 1:52 to play in the first. Team Canada veteran Oliver Bonk (London OHL) drew the second assist.
Gavin gets us going! 🚨
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 27, 2024
Gavin ouvre la marque pour le Canada! 🚨#WorldJuniors | #MondialJuniorpic.twitter.com/s5xjkQdo2N
All told, Canada would outshoot Finland 17-6 in the opening period.
The ice was seriously tilted in Canada’s favour to start the second frame, and they’d make it pay off with the second goal of the game.
Easton Cowan (London OHL) did the honours, forcing a turnover at the Finland blueline and getting off a shot from the left faceoff circle that beat Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen short side 4:38 into the frame.
All this guy does is score goals! 🚨
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 27, 2024
Il sait marquer des buts, celui-là! 🚨#WorldJuniors | #MondialJuniorpic.twitter.com/ldHg8QfOiT
Catton had an excellent scoring chance of his own late in the period, nearly scoring on the power play on a tic-tac-toe passing play, but it would remain a two-goal game.
Canada continued to carry the play, though. and ended up ahead 29-9 on the shot clock through a pair of periods.
Price then figured into Canada’s third goal late in the the third, and it was a nifty one. The Seattle Kraken prospect dipsy doodled around a Finland defender at the blueline before breaking into the zone and finding Pinelli in the slot, and one quick shot top shelf later, Canada had their 3-0 lead.
Luca Pinelli extends the lead for @hockeycanada.🇨🇦 #WorldJuniors #IIHF #FINCAN pic.twitter.com/M9uNvrBeRs
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 27, 2024
Schaefer then finished off scoring with an empty netter with 19 seconds to play.
Rimpinen finished with 37 saves for Finland.
Canada is back on the ice Friday night when they take on Latvia, with puck drop at 6:30 p.m. Saskatchewan time.
Finland will look for their first win when they take on Germany on Friday afternoon.
