Team Canada was looking pretty good last night until they
allowed three goals in just under two minutes. They trailed 3-1 after one and eventually fell 5-3 to Team Sweden in world junior pre-tournament action in Edmonton.
Mark Stone, Brendan Gallagher, and Jaden Schwartz all
scored for Canada. Devante Smith-Pelly had an unlimited amount of hits. Mark
Visentin was not good in net, looking shaky for much of the night. Scott
Wedgewood took over halfway through the game and looked much better. The media
is probably going to debate the goaltending about 600 times this weekend.
Canada looked a lot better in the second half of the game
– especially in the third period. The pace and intensity level was impressive
for an exhibition game. It was a very entertaining contest.
As for the two Saint John Sea Dogs who played in the
game, Nathan Beaulieu had another strong performance. He generated a few good
scoring chances again. Beaulieu looked solid in all three pre-tournament games.
It wasn’t the best night for Jonathan Huberdeau as he
took two minor penalties in the second period. He was on the ice in the final minute for Canada but
they could not net an equalizer. Sweden scored an empty netter to make it a
5-3 final.
Canada finishes pre-tournament action with a 2-1 record.
They begin the tournament on Boxing Day against Finland.
US – SLOVAKIA
Sea Dogs forward Charlie Coyle had a pair of goals in
Team USA’s 5-0 win over Team Slovakia last night in Three Hills, Alberta. Coyle
opened and ended the scoring for the US.
It was a rough pre-tournament for Tomas Jurco and
Slovakia. They went 0-2 and were outscored 8-0.
The US begins the tournament on Boxing Day against
Denmark in Edmonton while Slovakia begins play on December 27 against Latvia in
Calgary.
LINKS
- The Canadian Press’ player-by-player look at Team Canada.
- Down Goes Brown’s world junior preview.
- Former Sea Dogs head coach Jacques Beaulieu has a friendly wager going with Russian Nail Yakupov. "So if Canada wins,'' reveals Beaulieu, "Nail has to wear a Team Canada jersey for an entire week at practice. On the flip-side, I'll be wearing a Russia jersey for a week if they win.”
TONIGHT
This evening at 8pm, TSN will air a one-hour world junior
preview show.
U-17
According to HockeyScene.com, Oliver Cooper and Team
Atlantic depart for the World Under-17 Hockey tournament on Monday. The
tournament, which takes place in Windsor this year, begins on December 29 and
runs through January 4. Team Atlantic’s first preliminary game is on December 29 against Quebec.
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