2019-20 National Junior Team

CANADA DOWNS U.S. IN SHOWCASE OPENER

JASON LA ROSE

PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Kirby Dach (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta./Saskatoon, WHL) scored two goals and set up another, and Nolan Foote (Kelowna, B.C./Kelowna, WHL) added a goal and two assists to help Canada to a 4-1 win over the United States on Tuesday afternoon at Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp.

Joe Veleno (Kirkland, Que./Drummondville, QMJHL) had a goal and a helper and Justin Barron (Halifax, N.S./Halifax, QMJHL) chipped in two assists for the Canadians, who opened and closed with power-play goals at USA Hockey Arena.

Veleno got the offence going on the man advantage just past the 12-minute mark of the first period, taking a no-look, behind-the-back feed from Dach in tight and snapping a quick shot past American netminder Dustin Wolf.

He returned the favour midway through the second on a delayed U.S. penalty, threading a perfect pass down-low to Dach for a tap-in and a 2-0 lead.

Cole Caufield got one back for the Americans on the power play just 43 seconds into the third period, but Foote spun in the high slot and beat Wolf over the glove less than two minutes later to restore the two-goal advantage.

Dach closed out the win with his second of the game, jamming in a man-advantage marker with 9:47 left.

The Canadian goaltending tandem of Olivier Rodrigue (Chicoutimi, Que./Moncton, QMJHL) and Hunter Jones (Brantford, Ont./Peterborough, OHL) combined to make 30 saves – Rodrigue stopped all 17 he faced in 30 minutes of work before Jones turned away 13 of 14.

Canada is right back to action Wednesday in Plymouth, facing off against Finland, the defending IIHF World Junior Championship gold medallist, at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.