Otters’ Raddysh ties Canadian World Junior Record

Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters joined elite company on Thursday night in Toronto.

The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect became just the fourth Canadian player to score four goals in a single game at the IIHF World Junior Championship doing so as part of a 10-2 victory over Latvia before family and friends at Air Canada Centre.

Raddysh, who also added an assist as Canada’s Player of the Game, is the first Ontario Hockey League player to accomplish the feat while wearing the red and white maple leaf following the likes of Western Hockey League star Brayden Schenn of the Brandon Wheat Kings who scored four times in the 2011 event against Norway, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League greats Simon Gagne (Quebec Remparts, 1999 vs. Kazakhstan), and Mario Lemieux (Laval Voisins, 1983 vs. Norway).

“I didn’t really know until after I saw it on the screen (the record) beside all those names, but I wouldn’t want to put my name up that high, ” Raddysh said post-game. “I just have to enjoy the moment and get ready for the next game”

The IIHF World Junior Championship record for goals in a game is six held by Sweden’s Ola Rosander back in 1987.

“It’s a pretty special performance for him,” said Otters’ teammate and Team Canada captain Dylan Strome, who notched four assists on Thursday night. “He’s had some pretty good nights in the OHL but that might top all of them. I’m proud of him. He goes to the net hard it’s nice to see him rewarded.”

Raddysh led the OHL in scoring during the first half of the season recording 61 points in 28 games including 23 goals and 38 assists.

The 18-year-old from Caledon, ON, also scored once in Tuesday’s 5-0 win over Slovakia and has six points through three games at the World Junior which is tied for fourth overall in tournament scoring.

Canada wraps up preliminary round action on Saturday afternoon against the United States with the winner earning first place in Group B standings.