Canada stomps Latvia at World Juniors
Team Canada wanted to make a statement in their opening game of the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships in Saskatoon.
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Unfortunately for Latvia, that statement came through loud and clear in Canada’s 16-0 romp on Saturday.
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Gabriel Bourque of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar got the rout started just 36 seconds into the game. He led the way with a hat trick and tied the team record with seven points in Canada’s most lop-sided win in the history of the tournament. It was the 11th straight time that Canada has won their first game of the tournament.
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“So far, so good,” said Nazem Kadri of the London Knights, who scored a pair of goals in the win. “Obviously this first game we kind of wanted to make a statement and set the tone for the whole tournament.”
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Luke Adam (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) and captain Patrice Cormier (Rimouski Oceanic) also scored in the first period while Jordan Eberle (Regina Pats), with a pair, Travis Harmonic (Moose Jaw Warriors), Brandon Kozun (Calgary Hitmen) and Adam Henrique (Windsor Spitfires) scored in the second period. Cormier, Brandon McMillan (Kelowna Rockets), Kozun, Bourque and Adam rounded out the scoring in the third period.
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Kozun added three assists in the win while Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires), Brayden Schenn (Brandon Wheat Kings), Stefan Della Rovere (Barrie Colts) and Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis Blues – Niagara IceDogs) all chipped in with two assists.
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Canadian goaltender Jake Allen (Montreal Juniors) turned aside all 10 shots he faced as Canada outshot Latvia 66-10 in the game.
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Canada has won gold in the past five events and they are looking for their tournament record sixth straight championship and second in a row on home ice.
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Canada (1-0-0) is back in action on Monday when they face Switzerland.
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