2016-17 National Men's Team

CANADA TOPS HUNGARY IN DEUTSCHLAND CUP WARM-UP

DAVID BRIEN

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Paul Szczechura (Brantford, Ont./Traktor Chelyabinsk, KHL) found the back of the net twice as part of five unanswered goals, and Canada’s National Men’s Team earned a 5-1 win over Hungary on Tuesday in preparation for the 2016 Deutschland Cup.

The other Canadian goals belonged to Riley Holzapfel (Regina, Sask./Vienna Capitals, EBEL), Brandon Kozun (Calgary, Alta./Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL) and Bud Holloway (Wapella, Sask./CSKA Moscow, KHL).

Hungary got an early lead when Istvàn Sofron scored on the power play 13 minutes in, but that would be the lone puck to find its way past Canadian netminders Barry Brust (Swan River, Man./HC Slovan Bratislava, KHL) and Danny Taylor (HC Sibir Novosibirsk, KHL).

The Hungarian celebrations were short-lived, as Holzapfel tied the game just 27 seconds later.

After a fairly even first period, Canada came out in the second period flexing its offensive muscle, outshooting the Hungarians 10-5 and scoring twice before the end of 40 minutes.

Kozun gave Canada its first lead of the game 4:55 into the second before Szczechura took a pass from Kevin Clark (Winnipeg, Man./Brynäs IF, SHL) to make it a 3-1 game late in the middle frame.

The Canadians would add two more goals early in the final period.

Just 35 seconds after the puck dropped, Holloway scored for a 4-1 lead, before Szczechura netted his second of the game only 55 seconds after that to round out the scoring.

Canada limited Hungary to just two shots on goal in the third period, finishing with a 27-14 advantage.

Brust and Taylor split the goaltending duties for Canada; Brust got the start before giving way at the midway mark of the second period to Taylor, who stopped everything he faced.

Canada’s National Men’s Team will travel to Augsburg, Germany, for the 2016 Deutschland Cup, opening the tournament Friday against Switzerland (11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT).