Canada improves to 2-0 with WJC win over Czechs
Halifax – Kyle Wellwood (Windsor Spitfires) scored a goal and set up the game-winner to help Team Canada to a 4-0 win over the Czech Republic in World Junior play on Saturday in front of a capacity crowd of 10,300 fans at the Halifax Metro Centre.
Wellwood, a Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick who won the OHL scoring title two years ago, fed Canadian captain Scottie Upshall (Kamloops – WHL) in front of the net for the opening goal in the first period. The puck went in just as Lukas Krajicek (Peterborough Petes) finished serving a penalty for roughing. Carlo Colaiacovo (Erie Otters) also picked up an assist, his fifth of the tournament, on the goal.
Jay McClement (Brampton Battalion) outwaited Czech goaltender Marin Falter and dealt the puck to Jordin Tootoo (Brandon – WHL), who blasted it into an open net to give Canada a 2-0 lead in the second period.
Wellwood (pictured) scored the goal of the tournament when he picked the puck up in the neutral zone and fought off a Czech defender while cutting to the net. Wellwood cut across the crease and fired the puck into the top of the net while falling to one knee and then to his back.
“I had a breakaway and I knew the guy was going to trip me,”Wellwood said of the goal. “He just slewfooted me, and I ended up forehanding it upstairs. Believe it or not, I usually get about half my goals from my back. I get knocked down a lot.”
“We’re going to be watching that goal on highlight reels for years to come,” said Brian Burke, President and General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks, in an interview on TSN during the second intermission.
Pierre-Alexande Parenteau (Chicoutimi – QMJHL) rounded out the scoring with a third period powerplay marker.
“Our team was pretty good today,” said coach Marc Habscheid. “We completed hard and worked hard and that gave us a chance to win.”
Wellwood played an outstanding game after giving up the puck to Petr Taticek (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) on a defensive zone turnover in the first minute of the game. Midway through the first period, Wellwood used his speed on the forecheck and drew an interference penalty when he got a step ahead of a Czech defender. On the ensuing powerplay, Wellwood wired a shot over Falter that glanced off the post.
Wellwood says the chemistry is developing between him and Upshall. “It seems like I’ve been hitting skates and posts through the first game and a period. Getting that pass through to Scottie for the first goal, that just lifted my spirits big time and I know me and Scottie were really happy that we finally clicked on one. After my goal we definitely set in a little bit and I think we’re going to (have) a lot more chemistry.”
The Kitchener Rangers duo of Derek Roy and Gregory Campbell also played a strong game for Canada. They combined with Joffrey Lupul (Medicine Hat – WHL) to wreak havoc for the Czechs in all three zones. Roy and Campbell were turned aside on a two-on-one opportunity in the first period and again in the third.
Canada killed off four Czech powerplays, and haven’t allowed a man-advantage goal in 10 opportunities so far in the tournament.
“Special teams in a short term event are huge,” said Habscheid. “Obviously there is a tremendous amount of skill on the other side. When you can negate that, it’s huge.”
“In that first period we played really good defensively and we had some big chances too to score a goal,” said Taticek. “In the last two minutes they scored a goal and I think that was a big key for them. It’s never as good when you go into the dressing room when you go one goal down. In the second period we didn’t skate so well as the first period. They played hard, really good, that’s the way they played, they skated very well.”
Canadian goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (Cape Breton – QMJHL) made 22 saves for the shutout.
Canada (2-0-0) returns to the ice Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) against Germany (0-2-0).
– Aaron Bell
Photo: Dave Sanford CHA/HHOF
Summary
Canada 4, Czech Republic 0
First Period
1. Canada, Upshall (Wellwood, Colaiacovo) 18:34
Penalties — Klepis Cze (cross-checking) 3:03, Campbell Cda (boarding) 5:27, Martin Cze (delay of game; served by Taticek) 7:02, Holub Cze (interference) 10:24, Eminger Cda (roughing) 15:37, Krajicek Cze (roughing) 16:34.
Second Period
2. Canada, Tootoo (McClement, Woywitka) 4:33
3. Canada, Wellwood (Upshall) 12:12
Penalty — McClement Cda (holding) 19:49.
Third Period
4. Canada, Parenteau (White, Laich) 7:48 (pp)
Penalties — Turon Cze (interference) 7:30, Paetsch Cda (roughing) 8:15.
Shots on goal by Czech Republic 9 8 5–22
Canada 15 13 10–38
Goaltenders
Czech Republic: Falter (L,1-1-0), Canada: Fleury (W,2-0-0).
Power plays (goals/chances) Czech Republic 0-4; Canada, 1-5.
Referees — Danny Kurmann (Switzerland). Linesmen — Pavek Makarov (Russia), Peter Feola (U.S.).
Attendance — 10,300.
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