WORLD JUNIORS: Bedard OTW, Canada & Czechia To Semis
Halifax, N.S – Bedard and Svozil are off to the semi-finals with Canada and Czechia at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
RECAP | Canada 4, Slovakia 3 (OT)
Connor Bedard tallied three points, including the overtime winner (2G-1A) in Canada’s 4-3 OT quarter-final victory over Slovakia on Monday night. Bedard would break Jordan Eberle’s Canadian World Junior goal record with his 15th and 16th career World Junior goals while also passing Eric Lindros for the most career points by a Canadian at the World Juniors with his 32nd, 33rd and 34th career points.
A record-breaking goal! 🚨
Connor Bedard is now:
⭐️ 🇨🇦's all-time goal leader with 15
⭐️ 🇨🇦’s all-time points leader with 32
⭐️ 🇨🇦’s single-tournament points leader with 19
#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/kVUDh7y5iK— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) January 2, 2023
It wouldn’t take Bedard very long to open the scoring for Canada, breaking Eberle’s all-time Canadian World Junior’ career goal record, scoring his 15th of his career. With the goal, Bedard is now Canada’s single-tournament points leader at the World Juniors, grabbing his 19th point.
CONNOR BEDARD SETS A NEW CANADIAN RECORD FOR MOST GOALS AT THE WORLD JUNIORS! pic.twitter.com/CJwpYmJdvW
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2023
Just over five minutes into the second period, Bedard would collect his second point of the game, getting a secondary assist on Dylan Guenther’s power play goal to give Canada a 2-0 lead.
Another point (and counting) for #CB98!
He now has 20 points in the tournament, as 🇨🇦 leads 2-0.#LegendsInTheMaking | #WorldJuniors2023pic.twitter.com/VXygRbKo6C
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) January 3, 2023
After Libor Nemec scored on the power play to bring Slovakia within one, Vancouver Giants captain Zach Ostapchuk would restore Canada’s lead in the second, making it 3-1. It was 3-2 Canada after 40 minutes as Robert Baco of the Moose Jaw Warriors put Slovakia down by one.
In the third, with Slovakia pressuring, Libor Nemec would tie the game 3-3 with his second of the game.
This game needed overtime and Bedard called game, dancing around three players.
WHAT DID WE JUST WITNESS 😱
Connor Bedard with an absolutely filthy OT winner to send 🇨🇦 to the semis!#LegendsInTheMaking | #WorldJuniors https://t.co/ZwIdYhXZX8
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) January 3, 2023
Connor Bedard earned his third player of the game award of the tournament while Libor Nemec was named the player of the game for Slovakia.
RECAP | Czechia 9, Switzerland 1
Stanislav Svozil tallied two assists in Czechia’s quarter-final victory over Switzerland on Monday afternoon. They join Sweden in the semi-finals. Both teams will find out later today who their opponents will be. The Swiss go home after failing to win a game in regulation this tournament.
Jiri Kulich led the way with four points (2G-2A), Marcel Marcel tallied three points (2G-1A) and Gabriel Sztruc scored twice. Tomas Suchanek made 18 saves. The final shots were 28-18 for Czechia.
Both of Svozil’s assists on Monday were primary helpers, giving him eight points (1G-7A) in five games in the tournament.
Svozil sets up Szturc for his 7th assist of the tournament! His 8 points rank 1st amongst all defencemen#LegendsInTheMaking | #WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/HLg9DYdn9q
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) January 2, 2023
AROUND THE WORLD JUNIORS – Jan. 2
Latvia 5 vs. Austria 2 – Scotiabank Centre (Halifax)
Sweden 3 vs. Finland 2 – Avenir Centre (Moncton)
U.S.A 11 vs. Germany 1 – Avenir Centre (Moncton)
COMING UP – Jan. 4
Canada will take on U.S.A in semi-final action on Wednesday at 5:30 Saskatchewan time (7:30 p.m. local time).
Czechia will play Sweden in the semis at 1:30 Saskatchewan time (3:30 p.m. local time) on Wednesday.
