Canada dominated Switzerland with an impressive 8-1 victory, securing the top spot in Group B. The star of the game was Porter Martone, who netted a hat trick, while Gavin McKenna continued his stellar performance with another three-point game. Brandon Wheat Kings Roger McQueen is out injury for the rest of the tournament. Calgary Hitmen’s Carson Wetsch had to miss the game also due to suspension.
The first period was scoreless and the shots in first period were 15-6 for Switzerland.
Switzerland opened up the scoring first when Ottawa 67’s Kim Korbler scores unassisted at 2:47 of the first period. The Swiss only had 10 seconds to enjoy their lead.
Barrie Colts defenceman Kashawn Aitchenson scores for Canada at 2:57 of the second frame with the assist on the goal going to Red Deer Rebels forward Ollie Josephson and Chicoutimi Saguneneens Maxim Masse.
Gavin McKenna the current projected first overall pick for the 2026 NHL Entry draft made it a 2-1 Canada game at 5:55 of the second period with the helpers coming from South African born Harrison Brunicke and Moncton Wildcats 2007 born forward Caleb Desnoyers. It took less than three minutes for Gavin McKenna to break into the offensive zone from his own zone and dupe Christian Kirsch in the follow-up. 2:1 for Canada. That’s how quickly you turn a game!
Marek Vanacker makes it 3-1 Canada with the assist going to Cole Beaudoin at 6:24 of the second period.
Captain Porter Martone baseball batting it in the net to make it a 4-1 game on the Power Play from Gavin McKenna
Ryder Ritchie the son of former NHLer Byron Ritchie scores on the Power Play to make it a 5-1 game from the Guelph Storm’s Jett Luchanko and Erie Otter’s Matthew Schaefer at 15:27 of the second period.
Kelowna Rocket’s Tij Iginla makes it 6-1at 16:39 of the period with the assists going to Jett Luchanko and Ryder Ritchie. I wasn’t as high on Iginla at the start of the season as I have been lately. He is playing better and better every time I see him. That also spelt the end of the night for Swiss goalie Cameron Kirsch who was replaced by Phileas Lachant.
Porter Martone gets his second goal of the game to make it a 7-1 contest. TSN has a delay as twitter informed me 5 seconds earlier. The assist went to Gavin McKenna.
Shots on goal in the second frame were 11-5 for Canada
Porter Martone completes the hat trick with the assist going to Matthew Spence at 17:23 of the third period.
Shots on goal in the third period were 11-5 for Canada. Team Canada outshot Switzerland 34-27 in the game.
Mississauga Steelheads netminder Ryerson Leenders made 26 saves on the 27 shots that he faced for Canada for the win. University of Massachusetts commit Christian Kirsch made 15 saves on the 21 shots that he faced. He was replaced in the second period by Phileas Lachat who made 11 saves on the 13 shots that he faced.
Canada’s player of the game was Ryerson Leenders. The Swiss player of the game was the goal scorer Kim Korbler.
Team Canada Next Game is on Tuesday against Kazakhstan.
Earlier in the day, Adam Jecho (EDM) scored as Samuel Drancak and the Czech’s beat Sweden 3-2 in a shootout. Adam Titlbach (VAN) and Maxmilian Curran (TC) each had an assist in the victory.
