2017-18 National Men's Under-18 Team

CANADA TOPS BELARUS AT U18 WORLDS

JESSICA GOWANS

MAGNITOGORSK, Russia – Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team survived a wild seven-goal first period to earn an 8-3 win over Belarus in its second game Friday at the IIHF U18 World Championship.

The victory moves the Canadians’ record to 2-0 and leaves them atop Group B after two days of preliminary action.

The pace was frantic early in the first with Jack McBain (Toronto, Ont./Toronto Jr. Canadiens, OJHL) opening the scoring for Canada only 1:19 into the game, but Ilya Usov answered right back for Belarus just under thirty seconds later.

Canada stretched its lead to 3-1 on two more quick goals from Raphaël Lavoie (Chambly, Que./Halifax, QMJHL) and Alexis Lafrenière (Saint-Eustache, Que./Rimouski, QMJHL), the second of which marked the end of the night for Belarus goaltender Nikita Tolopilo; he was replaced by Danil Veremeichik after three goals in three minutes.

The teams continued to trade goals, with Alexei Protras drawing Belarus within one again at 6:48 before Jared McIsaac (Truro, N.S./Halifax, QMJHL) and Serron Noel (Nepean, Ont./Oshawa, OHL responded to send Canada to the first intermission up 5-2.

A goal from Liam Foudy (Scarborough, Ont./London, OHL) – his second in as many games – was the only scoring in the second period, and stretched Canada’s lead to 6-2.

Belarus got a quick goal in the third from Viktor Masilevich to pull it within three, Noel scored his second of the game and Ty Dellandrea (Port Perry, Ont./Flint, OHL) netted a shorthanded marker to put the game out of reach for good.

Noel finished the game with two goals and an assist, while McBain also had a three-point night with a goal and two helpers. Colten Ellis (Port Hawkesbury, N.S./Rimouski, QMJHL) went the distance in goal, making 24 saves.

Canada is back in action Sunday in Magnitogorsk, when it will face off against Switzerland (10:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. PT).