Twelve-goal U20 show! Canada edged the Czechs

Two games, two wins – only two teams could say they hadn't been beaten at the World Juniors. However, this was destined to change as these two teams, the Czech Republic and Canada, were about to face off head-to-head. Although the Canadians weren't the better team by a significant difference, they displayed great effectiveness. They were up by four after the first period, and 30 minutes in, they had already built up a very comfortable 7-1 lead. Czechia didn't give up and stepped on the gas, which was slowly paying off. However, it was already too late. The comeback the hosts were hoping for couldn't happen to the full extent, and the scoreboard stopped at the result of 7-5.

Svijanska Arena 1

7-5

(3:1, 4:0, 0:4)

Canada U20 - Czechia U20

Penalties

7:3

PPG

2:2

SHG

0:0

Shots on goal

24:27

Goals and assists

3. Hiscock (Fontaine, Dyke), 5. Friesen (Roulette), 15. Friesen (Neill, Roulette), 20. Birkett (Rawji, Donohoe), 24. Laundry (McGuire), 25. Donohoe (Osborne, Neill), 30. Fontaine (Pasternak) – 12. Taufer (Lhota, Tomšík), 37. Bláha, 38. Kábrt (Černý, Matoušek), 43. Malý (Bláha, Korbel), 45. Bečka

Referees

Jeff Johnstone, Matthew Wass

Official game sheet

Canada U20

Genarro – Zwarich, Neill, Teasdale, McGuire – Birkett, Duggan, Stepputat, Friesen, Hiscock, Janus, Donohoe, Roulette, Pasternak, Weihs, Ewonus, Osborne, Laundry, Fontaine, Dyke, Rawji

Czechia U20

Křemenák (20. a od 24. Halouzka) – Bečka, Kovařík, Krejčí, Matoušek, Pavlík, Dostál, Korbel, Hálek – Černý, Bláha, Wróbel, Hroch, Macek, Šmíd, Taufer, Malý, Tomšík, Kábrt, Jelen, Lhota, Chovanec, Vizváry

COACHES´ REACTIONS

Paul Kastes (CAN): „I’m very happy with first two periods. We came out, I think we controlled the play and we did exactly what we wanted to do. Obvisously in 7-1 lead things started to get loose so we didn’t really love what we saw in the third period but overall we are happy, we take the win and we‘re moving onto Switzerland in the last game.“

Filip Červinka (CZE): „Today we wanted to build on the evening game against the USA because they are a similar opponent, but unfortunately, we were taught a lesson in productivity and simplicity by Canada. I think Canada clearly outplayed us. In the third period, towards the end, we let up a bit, so we managed to cosmetically adjust the score, but we need to prepare for such opponents completely differently. We have trained for it, and I believe we are capable of playing at least an even game with them, but unfortunately, we didn't show that.“