Steenbergen, Dube both score twice as Canada rolls past Switzerland
Hamilton, ON – A dominant Canadian performance saw Calgary Flames prospect Dillon Dube (Kelowna Rockets) and Arizona Coyotes draftee Tyler Steenbergen (Swift Current Broncos) each score twice in an 8-1 pre-tournament win over Switzerland.
Much like Wednesday’s 9-0 blanking of the Czech Republic, Canada was in control from the outset, outshooting Switzerland 61-7, holding their opponents without a shot on goal in the final 29 minutes of regulation.
THANK YOU HAMILTON – 12,562 in attendance! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/9hneD2aDwa
— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) December 23, 2017
St. Louis Blues prospect Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting) chipped in with a goal and two assists while other Canadian goals came from Jake Bean (Calgary Hitmen), Drake Batherson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) and Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings).
Returning centreman Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads) finished the night with three assists as Canada wrapped up pre-tournament play with a 2-0 record, combining to outscore the Czechs and Swiss 17-1.
“I really liked the way our players handled themselves even though the score was a lot on our side,” said Canadian head coach Dominique Ducharme (Drummondville Volitgeurs) following the decisive victory. “Guys kept their mindset and we worked on our game.”
Friday’s win came before an enthusiastic crowd of 12,562 in Hamilton.
GAME OVER! ???????? finishes a perfect pre-#WorldJuniors schedule with an 8⃣-1⃣ win over ???????? in #Hamilton. Statistics: https://t.co/RfU2Ompo8y pic.twitter.com/CXGAri7XhZ
— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) December 23, 2017
The Juniors are off to Buffalo to embark on the 2018 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship that gets started on Boxing Day with a matchup against Finland at 4:00pm ET/1:00pm PT.
Other World Junior Pre-Tournament scores:
United States 3, Sweden 1 (Erie, PA) – USA: Kailer Yamamoto (Spokane Chiefs) – 1G
GAME SUMMARY
Slovakia 4, Belarus 1 (Jamestown, NY) – SVK: Marian Studenic (Hamilton Bulldogs) – 2G
GAME SUMMARY