Canada scored four goals in the first period against the Czechs in a game filled with penalties due to sissy International rules. I still can not call the country Czechia. I have to call it the Czech or the Czech Republic. Czechia reminds me too much of Chechnya. Red Deer Rebel’s Samuel Drancak was a late addition for the Czechs (like Josephson and Iginla on Canada).
Malcolm Spence buries a top hand shot just 5 seconds into the game I barely had a chance to sit down. Bad fumble on a pass by the Czech defenceman. Almost comical. Spence who is an assistant captain on Canada hails from Mississauga, Ontario. He plays for the Erie Otters of the OHL and is not eligible for the NHL draft until 2025. It broke the record for fastest goal ever at the U18 tournament by 4 seconds.
Tij Iginla tried to make a pass over to Ollie Josephson and the puck just trickled in the net. Iginla made it 2-0 short handed at 1:51 . The Czechs went upstairs to challenge Iginla offside (he wasn’t). Charlie Elick picked up the assist on that one. Oh yeah Czechs also got a penalty for a failed challenge.
Tij Iginla gets his second goal of the game at 7:18 from Gavin McKenna (who has been compared to Nikita Kucherov) and Porter Martone on the Power Play. Iginla keeps looking better and better every game I have seen him. Some said he would be lucky to sneak into the first round at the beginning of the year. He is looking more like top 10 for 2024.
Moments later it became 4-0 Canada when Calgary Hitmen forward Carson Wetsch tipped in a Cole Beaudoin point shot the second assist went to Kashawn Aitcheson at 7:42 of the first period. That was the end of Czech goaltender Jakub Milota who played last season for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL.
Shots on goal in the first period were 17-9 for Canada
Shots on goal in the second period were 9-8 for Canada
Malcolm Spence scores his second goal of the game at 12:41 of the third period to make it 5-0 Canada with the assists going to Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone.
Gavin McKenna makes it 6-0 with the assists going to Porter Martone and Malcolm Spence.
Shots on goal in the third period were 9-7 for the Czech Republic. Canada outshot the Czechs 33-26 in the game.
Thunder Bay, Ontario native Carter George stopped all 26 shots that he faced for the win and the shutout for team Canada. He also earned the star of the game for team Canada. Cape Breton Eagle’s netminder Jakub Mitola made 5 saves on the 9 shots that he faced before being replaced after the fourth Canada goal in the first period. He was replaced by Bretislav Vystrcil who plays for Mora IK in the Sweden J20 league. Vystrcil made 22 saves on the 24 shots that he faced for the Czechs.
Canada’s next game is Sunday against the Swiss.
