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CANADIAN OFFENCE ERUPTS IN TOURNAMENT-OPENING WIN
by Alan Adams
KANATA, ON – Canada's drive for a fifth straight IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal got off to a
roaring start Friday night, as John Tavares (Oakville, ON/Oshawa, OHL) scored twice and added an assist in an
8-1 victory over the Czech Republic in front of a tournament-record 19,622 fans at SBP Arena.
Angelo Esposito (Montreal, QC/Montreal, QMJHL), Ryan Ellis (Freelton, ON/Windsor, OHL), Tyler Ennis
(Edmonton, AB/Medicine Hat, WHL), Chris DiDomenico (Woodbridge, ON/Saint John, QMJHL), Zach Boychuk
(Airdrie, AB/Lethbridge, WHL) and Alex Pietrangelo (King City, ON/Niagara, OHL) also scored for the home
side, which rebounded from a slow start to score seven times in the final 40 minutes and outshoot the Czechs
37-22.
Dustin Tokarski (Watson, SK/Spokane, WHL) didn't have much work between the pipes for the Canadians,
making 21 saves, but was sharp in the opening period with the game still scoreless. Jan Kana broke Tokarski’s
shutout bid with less than three minutes to go, surprising the Canadian netminder with a wrist shot from the
slot.
After a number of close calls in the first period Tavares put the Canadians on the board in the dying
seconds of the frame, sidestepping a Czech defender and snapping a perfect shot over the shoulder of Tomas
Vosvrda.
It was Tavares at work again early in the second, as he converted on another Canadian power play to double
the lead and then stripped a Czech player and fed Esposito for a 3-0 lead.
Ellis scored off a scramble in front of the Czech net just 65 seconds later, and Ennis’ goal five minutes
after that made it 5-0 and chased Vosvrda, who was replaced by Dominik Furch.
DiDomenico, Boychuk and Pietrangelo had third-period goals for Canada, while Kana rounded out the scoring
late.
Not surprisingly, Tavares earned Player of the Game honours for his three-point effort.
"I approach every game the same way," said Tavares afterwards. "I just want to create opportunities. I
want to make sure the coaching staff has confidence in me."
Mission accomplished.
"He has been great," said Canadian head coach Pat Quinn. "Tonight he had that extra touch."
The Canadian squad honoured the memory of the late Luc Bourdon, wearing ‘LB’ stickers on the backs of
their helmets during the game. In addition, it was announced that no one will wear Bourdon’s #6 jersey at
this year’s World Juniors.
Bourdon, who won gold with Canada’s National Junior Team in 2006 and 2007, passed away as a result of a
motorcycle accident in May.
Canada will return to the ice at SBP Arena on Sunday afternoon, taking on Kazakhstan. Puck drop is set for
3 p.m. EST/12 p.m. PST.
Team Canada Game Notes - pdf
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