Ryan Roobroeck scored twice, Xavier Villeneuve had a goal and assist, and Canada whipped Latvia 7-1 in the under-18 men’s world hockey championship on Friday at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center.
Calgary native Jackson Smith gets the Canadians on the board first at 9:03 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Brady Martin and Windsor Spitfires Jack Nesbitt.-The defending champions took the lead at 9:03 in the first period when Brady Martin connected with Jackson Smith, who fired a precise wrist shot past Latvian goaltender Ivans Kufterins, finding the top corner over the glove.
Xavier Villeneuve made it a 2-0 game at 16:04 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to the Rebels Matthew Gard and Alessandro Di Iorio, a 2008 born who plays for the Sarnia Sting.–With less than four minutes remaining in the period, defenseman Xavier Villeneuve dazzled with skillful moves, weaving past two Latvian players at the blueline before unleashing a shot on Ivans Kufterins. The Latvian netminder stopped the initial attempt, but the puck popped free. Villeneuve pounced on the rebound amidst a crowd, deftly lifting the puck over the sprawled goaltender to give Canada a 2-0 lead.
Shots on goal in the first period were 10-6 for Canada.
The second overall pick in the 2023 OHL entry draft Ryan Roobroeck makes it a 3-0 Canada game at 5:04 of the second period. The helper on the goal went to Guelph Storm’s Quinn Beauchesne.– Canada took a 3-0 lead when Roobroeck headed to the net and Quinn Beauchesne made a tape-top-tape pass that Roobroeck easily tipped into an empty net.
Prince George Cougars Carson Carels makes the game 4-0 at 14:42 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Braeden Cootes and Vancouver Giants Ryan Lin.– Carson Carels – one of three underagers on the Canadian roster – became the third defenceman to score in this game when he stepped into a shot and absolutely blasted it past Capars. Capars replaced Regnars after it was believed Canada had an earlier goal but was called off.
Sarnia Sting’s Alessandro Di Iorio scored shorthanded for Canada to make it 5-0 at 17:05 of the second period. The goal was unassisted.- Canada then scored shorthanded to make it 5-0 when Alessandro Di Iorio won a board battle and took the puck hard to the net before flipping it over the shoulder of Capars.
Shots on goal in the second period were 12-7 for Canada.
Latvia got on the board when Captain Daniels Serkins scored on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Alberts Smits and Olivers Murnieks who plays for Sioux City of the USHL.
Penn State commit Lev Katzin sniped one to make it a 6-1 game at 8:56 of the third period. The assist on the goal went to Matthew Gard.– Lev Katzin grabbed a loose puck and had a ton of time before snapping a shot past Latvia’s Regnars Capars.
Ryan Roobroeck got his second goal of the night to make it a 7-1 game at 10:44 of the third period with the assists on the goal going to Lev Katzin and Xavier Villeneuve.
Shots on goal in the third period were 6 to 4 for Canada. Canada outshot the Latvians 28-17 in the game.
For Canada Lucas Beckman made 16 saves on the 17 shots that he faced. For the Latvians Ivans Kufterins made 12 saves on the 15 shots he faced. He was replaced near the end of the first period by Regnars Capars who made 9 saves on the 13 shots that he faced.
The Canadian Player of the Game is Xavier Villeneuve. The Latvian Player of the Game is Reinis Auzins.
Attendance in Allen, Texas was 1237
Canadas next game is Sunday against Finland
