Canada defeated Sweden 4-2 In pre tournament play at the World Juniors in Ottawa on Saturday.
Ottawa 67’s Captain Luca Pinelli makes it a 1-0 at 14:47 of the first period with the Assist going to Soo Greyhound and LaSalle, Ontario native Andrew Gibson. Pinelli hails from Stoney Creek, Ontario (just outside of Hamilton) and is a 2023 4th round draft choice of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Sweden goal gets on the board at the end of the first with 0.3 seconds left in the first when Felix Unger Sorem who is team mates with Bradley Nadeau with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL scored to tie the game. The assists on the goal went to Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein. Stenberg and Lindstein were both St Louis Blues first round draft picks in 2023.
Shots on goal in the first period were 12-11 for the Canadians
Montreal Canadians 2024 7th round pick Rasmus Bergqvist made it 2-0 for the Swedes at 4:31 of the second frame with the assits going to Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein again.
Shots on goal in the second period were 15-7 for the Canadians. Carson Bjarnason now entered the game in net for the Canadians.
Returning player and London Knight Oliver Bonk tied the game up for Canada at 9:15 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to his Knight team mate Easton Cowan and Oshawa General and Colorado Avalanche prospect Calum Ritchie.
Canada takes a 3-2 lead when Brampton, Ontario native Calum Ritchie scored at 16:24 of the third period with the assists on the goal going to Calgary Hitmen Tanner Howe and Chicago Wolve Bradley Nadeau.
Easton Cowan made it a 4-0 game right of a face off in the Sweden zone after Calum Ritchie won the face off at 18:25 of the third period.
Shots on goal in the third period were 17-6 for the Canadians with Canada outshooting the Swedes in the game 44-24.
For Canada 2025 Draft Eligible Jack Ivankovic who plays for the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL made 16 saves on the 18 shots the he faced in the first 2 periods he played in. For the third period Philadelphia Flyers 2023 2nd rounder Carson Bjarnson stopped all 6 shots that he faced to share the win. For the Swedes Melker Thelin made 40 saves on the 44 shots that he faced. Thelin is a prospect of the Utah Hockey Club and was selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the 5th round in 2023.
Player of the game for the Swedes was goalie Melker Thelin (who got Maple Syrup) For Team Canada player of the game was Berkly Catton.
Team Canada’s next game is Monday December 23rd when they take on the Czechs
