While it wasn’t a flawless performance, Canada secured a crucial victory Sunday night, blanking Germany at the 2025 World Junior Championship. Carter George was stellar between the pipes, stopping all 25 shots directed his way to earn his second consecutive shutout for the Canadians in a 3-0 triumph at Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre. Oliver Bonk opened the scoring with a power-play marker in the first period, followed by an insurance goal from Caden Price in the third. Mathieu Cataford then iced the game with an empty-netter. The online reactions to the perceived lack of offensive firepower have been quite amusing. Notably, Porter Martone was a healthy scratch for this evening’s contest, with Carson Rehkopf drawing into the lineup.
Oliver Bonk buries one on the Power Play to give the Canadians the 1-0 lead with the assists on the goal going to Easton Cowan and Berkly Catton at 9:40 of the first period.– Canada’s power play unit clicked! Oliver Bonk unleashed a blistering one-timer from the bumper position and buried it. The setup was all Catton and Cowan, who cycled the puck effectively along the perimeter before threading a pass to Bonk, who was stationed perfectly in the slot. Clearly, utilizing Bonk in his preferred power-play spot proved to be a shrewd move by the coaching staff, as Canada now leads 1-0 with 10:30 remaining in the opening frame.
Shots on goal in the first period were tied at 9 each.
Shots in the second period were 10-9 for Canada.
Caden Price made it 2-0 for Canada at 15:02 of the second period with the assists on the goal going to Seattle Thunderbirds Sawyer Mynio and assistant captain Calum Ritchie.–Canada has finally found the back of the net again! A shot from the point by Caden Price took a wild carom off the backboards, then deflected off Pertuch’s skate and past the goal line. It seems Pertuch was trying to push off and inadvertently directed the puck in. A fortunate bounce, no doubt, but one that Canada absolutely needed. With just 4:58 left on the clock, they now hold a 2-0 advantage.
Rimouski Oceanic and 2023 Vegas Knights 3rd rounder Mathieu Cataford got a goal in the empty net with just 3 seconds remaining in the game with the assist on the goal going to goalie Carter George.– Carter George took a shot at a goalie goal, firing the puck towards the empty net, but it drifted wide of the mark. With the offensive struggles they were having, you could almost understand the temptation to have the netminder try his luck. However, it was Mathieu Cataford who ultimately sealed the deal, finding the empty net with just two seconds remaining. Canada escapes with the win.
Shots on goal in the third period were 17-7 for Canada with the Canadians outshooting the Germans 36-25 in the game.
Carter George made all 25 saves that he was faced with for the win and the shutout for the Canadians. George has shutouts in both games he has played. For the Germans Nico Pertuch made 33 saves on the 35 shots that he faced.
Player of the game for Canada was Carter George. Nico Pertuch was player of the game for the Germans. Both made complete sense.
Canada’s next game is New Years eve against the USA. The USA lost to Finland earlier today.
