Canada’s National Junior Team completely shut the door on Slovakia on the second day of the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship with a 5-0 win.
After no real excitement over the first 20 minutes, Canada broke the game open with a four-goal second period.
Former Penticton Vees player Tyson Jost (Kelowna, B.C./University of North Dakota, NCHC) earned an assist on Jérémy Lauzon's (Val-d’Or, Que./Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL) goal that got the ball rolling for Canada. Taking a short pass from Jost, Lauzon went glove side from the slot.
Jeremy Lauzon fires one home for the game's first goal! 1-0 Canada. @CanadianTire #BigPlay #WorldJuniors https://t.co/JLvAqi0ZFz pic.twitter.com/K70zFN8PQW
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2016
Canada limited its opponent to only six shots on net — tying a team record for fewest allowed. In 1983, Canada held Norway to half a dozen shots in a 13-0 victory.
Goaltender Connor Ingram (Imperial, Sask./Kamloops, WHL) was barely tested in picking up his first international win.
Read more: World Juniors is tradition for former BCHL players
Canada, in turn, fired 44 shots on Slovakian netminder Adam Huska.
Lauzon (Val-d’Or, Que./Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL), Taylor Raddysh (Caledon, Ont./Erie, OHL), Anthony Cirelli (Woodbridge, Ont./Oshawa, OHL), Thomas Chabot (Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce, Que./Saint John, QMJHL) and Michael McLeod (Mississauga, Ont./Mississauga, OHL) scored the goals. Chabot, Lauzon and Cirelli also had an assist each.
By the end of the second period Canada had more goals (four) than Slovakia had shots on net (three).
Canada now has a day off. Its next game is against Latvia on Thursday (5 p.m. PT).
Files from Wendy Graves/Hockey Canada
Tyson Jost's mother, Laura, celebrates her son's assist! #WolrdJuniors #FlyTheFlag pic.twitter.com/0cuVJZW1He
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 28, 2016