Four Games on Schedule of Day 3
The 2003 World Junior Hockey Championships moves into its third day today and four games are on the schedule including a Group B match in Halifax between Canada and the Czech Republic. Today’s Canada-Czech Republic game will start at 3:10 Atlantic Time. Both Canada and the Czech Republic posted victories in their first games of the WJC.
Canada used its power play to defeat Sweden 8-2 on December 26 with defencemen Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo playing the roles of offensive leaders for Canada. White, who plays for the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League scored twice and added an assist in the victory. Colaiacovo, a member of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, led all players in scoring in the game as he chipped in with four assists and he is in a three-way tie for the tournament scoring lead. Canada scored six power play goals and added a short-handed marker in the opening day win over Sweden.
The Czechs handed Germany its second loss of the tournament last night as the Czech Republic skated to a 3-0 win. Germany, who will play its next game of the tournament on Sunday against Canada, has been held scoreless in its first two games. From a Canadian Hockey League perspective, Tomas Fleischman of the Moose Jaw Warriors scored the game winner for the Czechs six minutes into the second period and Peterborough Petes’ defenceman Lukas Krajicek assisted on the third Czech Republic goal. The Czech Republic out shot Germany 30-15 in the game.
There will be some familiar faces in the Czech line up as seven members of the Czech Republic team play for teams in the Canadian Hockey League. Nineteen of Canada’s 22 man roster are currently playing in the CHL while Steve Eminger and Pierre-Marc Bouchard both played in the CHL last season before moving onto the National Hockey League in 2002-03.
Canada and the Czech Republic have not met in a World Junior Hockey Championships’ game since the 2000 event that was played in Sweden. The teams played to a 1-1 tie in the tournament that saw the Czechs go on to win the gold medal while Canada captured the bronze medal. Since 1994, when the Czech Republic and Slovakia began sending their own teams to World Junior Hockey Championships, Canada and the Czech Republic have met six times with Canada winning four games and one game was tied. From 1982, when Canada began sending a national team to the World Junior Championships, to 1993, when the split of Czechoslovakia took place, Czechoslovakia had a won-lost-tied record versus Canada of 6-2-4.
In the other Group B game that is on today’s schedule Finland will face Sweden. Finland won its opening game on December 26 when it defeated Germany 4-0.
Two games on the schedule for Group A in Sydney today with Slovakia facing Russia and Switzerland taking on the United States. Russia, Slovakia and Switzerland all have a win under their belts while the United States will be looking to improve its won-lost record to 1-1 after losing to Russia on Day One.
Slovakia had an easy time in its first game of the tournament on Friday as they routed Belarus 11-1 and the Slovaks held a 53-10 edge in shots on goal. Karol Sloboda of the Ottawa 67’s was an offensive leader for Slovakia as he contributed two goals and an assist in the game. Richard Stehlik of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Sherbrooke Castors recorded a pair of assists while Igor Pohanka of the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League contributed to the Slovak win with a goal and an assist. Michal Lukac of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens had a one goal and one assist performance and Belleville Bull defenceman Oliver Maron recorded an assist in the win.
Russia defeated the United States 5-1 on Thursday to start off defence of their World Junior title in a positive manner. CHL representation on the Russian squad consists of Timofei Shishkanov of the Quebec Remparts and Evengi Artyukhin of the Moncton Wildcats.
The United States will be without defenceman Tim Gleason for the remainder of the tournament. Gleason, who plays for the Windsor Spitfires, broke his ankle in Thursday’s loss to Russia. Mississauga IceDogs’ forward Patrick O’Sullivan scored the only goal for the U.S. in the 5-1 loss to Russia.
Switzerland will put its 1-0-0 record up against the U.S. in today’s game in Sydney. The Swiss skated to a 4-2 win over Belarus to open the tournament on Thursday. Victoriaville Tigres’ netminder Daniel Manzato did not see action for Switzerland against Belarus.
Germany will have the day off in Group B while Belarus will also enjoy a day’s rest after playing two Group A games in the first two days of the event. Germany will face Canada on Sunday while Russia will take on Belarus on Sunday.
Total attendance in Halifax and Sydney is at 38,234 for the first six games. A sellout crowd of 10,300 took in the Canada-Sweden game at the Halifax Metro Centre on Thursday and last night 9562 saw the Czech Republic defeat Germany. The Russia-United States game in Sydney on Thursday was played before a full house of 4950 at Centre 200.
– Dave Lord, Canadian Hockey League
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