The Czech’s are who Canada beat in the finals in last year’s tournament in Edmonton. The Czech’s must win this game in regulation or else the tournament is over for them.
Canada made it three-from-three in the round-robin after a 5-0 win over co-hosts Czechia. Toronto native Gavin Betts stopped all 23 shots he faced while Medicine Hat Tigers Liam Ruck scored twice. Beckham Edwards added three points (1G/2A) while Lacombe, Alberta native Daxon Rudolph and Alessandro Di Iorio also had goals.–Canada’s offense exploded for four third-period goals while the defense and goaltending locked down a shutout, keeping them undefeated in the tournament.
Liam Ruck makes it 1-0 Canada from his brother Marcus and his other brother Mathis Preston at 11:59 of the first period.–Canada broke the deadlock late in the first when Liam Ruck buried a sharp-angle shot at 11:59, set up perfectly by Markus Ruck and Mathis Preston. The goal gave Canada the early edge in a physical, back-and-forth opening frame.
Shots on goal in the first were 9-6 for the Czechs
Dima Zhilkin kneed a guy its in review. It looks like it could be a 5 he did lead with his knee and it is International rules. He got a 5 and a game and gets to shower early. Perce Mbuyi will serve the penalty.
Shots on goal after a second period which was scoreless were 13-8 for Canada.
London, Ontario native Beckham Edwards makes it 2-0 on a beautiful wrap around goal that just snuck in past Poletin at 11:39 of the third period. The assist on the goal went to Adam Valentini.
Prince Albert Raiders Daxon Rudolph then makes it 3-0 after firing home a beautiful back drop pass from Beckham Edwards. The other assist went to Jean Christoph Lemieux.
Liam Ruck makes it a 4-0 game from Landon Dupont at 16:55 of the third period.
Alessandro Di Iorio scored making it 5-0 at 19:29 of the third period with the assist on the goal going to Beckham Edwards.
Shots on goal in the third period were 16-6 for Canada with Canada outshooting the Czechs 35-23 in the game.
Gavin Betts stopped all 23 shots that he faced for the shutout win for Canada. For the Czechs Frantisek Poletin who was also the Czech goalie at the U18 tournament earlier this year stopped 30 of the 35 shots that he faced.
Next game is Friday in the semi finals against the USA
I posted this as I did the same exactly a year ago also and it is neat to see how much it changes at the end of the year. Here is the link to the article with last years draft and Hlinka game LINK James Hagen is at #1 and Schaefer is all the way at #9.
