Canadian Juniors pour it on in 9-0 pre-tournament win
London, ON – It was all Canada from start to finish as the National Junior Team defeated the Czech Republic 9-0 in World Junior pre-tournament action at Budweiser Gardens.
A year after tying a Canadian World Junior record with four goals in a single game, Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters) showed early indications that he still possesses that scoring touch, registering two goals and two assists in the lopsided affair.
London fan favourite Robert Thomas (London Knights) finished the night with a goal and two helpers while Drake Batherson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles), Maxime Comtois (Victoriaville Tigres) and Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack) all finished with a goal and an assist.
9,036 strong in London ???????????????? #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/sr74QBltvM
— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) December 21, 2017
Other Canadian markers came from Jake Bean (Calgary Hitmen), Boris Katchouk (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) and Cal Foote (Kelowna Rockets).
“We’re not talking much about the scoreboard,” said Canada head coach Dominique Ducharme (Drummondville Voltigeurs) following the win. “We have goals in our game that we set for ourselves in the way we do things and we challenge ourselves with that more than the scoreboard and the win.”
Canada outshot the Czechs 32-18, going 2-for-2 on the power play before a crowd of 9,036 in London.
Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips) picked up the win in goal, turning aside all 18 shots he faced.
Up next on the pre-tournament schedule, Canada takes on Switzerland at FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton on Friday night at 7:00pm EST.
GAME OVER! ???????? pulls away in the 3rd period for a 9⃣-0⃣ win over ???????? in #LdnOnt. Statistics: https://t.co/I21KMbtJ9f #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/aQqXd0Vszb
— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) December 21, 2017
Wednesday’s other World Junior Pre-Tournament scores:
United States 14, Belarus 0 (Jamestown, NY) – USA: Kieffer Bellows (Portland Winterhawks) – 2G
GAME SUMMARY
Russia 4, Denmark 2 (Rochester, NY) – RUS: Vitalii Abramov (Victoriaville Tigres) – 1G, 1A / Dmitry Sokolov (Sudbury Wolves) – 1G / German Rubtsov (Acadie-Bathurst Titan) – 1A / Artyom Minulin (Swift Current Broncos) – 1A
GAME SUMMARY