World Juniors: Canada beats Czechia 5-1

Kent Johnson has been working for years on a transfer that stuns goalies and hockey followers alike.

On Saturday, he executed it in a giant approach, scoring a highlight-reel-worthy purpose that helped Canada to a 5-1 win over Czechia on the world junior hockey championship.

Johnson put away the dazzling recreation winner 19 minutes into the primary interval, scooping the puck on to his stick blade behind the online, selecting it up as he glided ahead and swirling it in over the Czech goalie’s shoulder for an elusive “Michigan” purpose.

The transfer – also referred to as a lacrosse purpose – is one thing the Columbus Blue Jackets prospect has been honing for about six years.

“I have been practising that transfer since I used to be like, 14, and doing it,” he stated. “Now it is simply one thing that is sort of within the software field.”

Nonetheless, pulling it out to offer the Canadians a 2-1 lead – one they by no means relinquished – was thrilling.

“It is a huge purpose, a very good one,” stated Johnson, who added an help within the third interval. “I believe it is the interval I used to be having, too. I believe I’d have been fairly pumped for it to go off my skate, too.”

The play drew wild cheers from the gang of 5,135 at Rogers Place. On the ice, Johnson’s linemate Logan Stankoven held his gloved palms above his head and uttered “Oh my God!”

“That was most likely one of many nicest Michigans I’ve seen, truthfully,” stated Canada’s captain, Mason McTavish. “He received it up so quick and on the finish of the primary interval, the ice is not that nice then. In order that was one thing particular to look at. I am going to undoubtedly be watching that time and again.”

McTavish scored twice for Canada (3-0-0) on Saturday, whereas Ridly Greig and Tyson Foerster every discovered the again of the online. Jack Thompson, Ronan Seeley and Stankoven every contributed a pair of assists.

Czechia (1-1-1) opened the scoring with a short-handed purpose early within the first interval.

Jaroslav Chmelar was despatched to the field after operating fellow New York Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann into the boards from behind and leaving the Canadian with a bloody nostril.

The play was reviewed and Chmelar was ejected with a recreation misconduct. His group was left to kill a five-minute main penalty.

Rysavy gave the Czech’s some respiratory room, placing a shot up below the crossbar 5:10 into the sport. The puck bounced out of the online and the play continued, however a video evaluation moments later confirmed the puck had crossed the purpose line.

The best way Canada rallied bodes effectively for the remainder of the event, stated Othmann.

“It is just a bit little bit of adversity. And that is OK in these video games,” he stated. “I believe that builds extra character for the essential video games, elimination video games. And it simply exhibits that we’re resilient. It does not matter who we’re taking part in, we will maintain going.”

It was a busy evening in web for Czech goalie Tomas Suchanek, who stopped 52 of 57 photographs.

McTavish was first to beat the netminder, placing away the equalizer 16:44 into the opening body by deflecting in Thompson’s lengthy blast by means of visitors.

Seconds earlier, Suchanek made an eye-popping cease to protect his group’s lead. Stationed in conjunction with the online, Johnson received a fast shot off on the out-of-position netminder however Suchanek slid over simply in time to make a diving glove save.

“I used to be a bit of bit fortunate,” the Czech goalie admitted. “The puck went into the slot and I noticed he was going to move it throughout and I simply put my glove out and he simply shot it in my glove. I used to be like `Oh my god, what simply occurred?’ I watched the replay and it was fairly enjoyable. I simply stated to myself `Good job’ and I saved going.”

Canada’s head coach Dave Cameron stated he was “nervous” early within the recreation about how effectively Suchanek was taking part in.

“This event, now because the video games get higher and the competitors will get harder, it’s important to keep it up,” he stated. “ (Suchanek) was actually good and we caught with it and located a approach.”

On the different finish of the ice, Dylan Garand made 22 saves to gather his second win of the event for the Canadians.

Canada took a 3-1 lead 4:48 into the body because of a power-play purpose.

Czechia’s Gabriel Szturc was referred to as for roughing and 5 seconds into the person benefit, Greig tipped in Seeley’s shot for his second purpose of the event.

Canada was 1 for 3 on the ability play Saturday whereas Czechia went 0 for two.

Teen phenom Connor Bedard arrange Canada’s fourth purpose of the evening, slicing a crisp move to McTavish, who was alone on the prime of the slot. He stickhandled his approach in and put a shot by means of the goalie’s legs for his second purpose of the sport 11:05 into the second.

Foerster sealed the rating 7:39 into the third interval, gathering a move from Johnson in the midst of the slot, winding up and blasting an enormous shot previous Suchanek to offer the Canadians a 5-1 benefit.

Earlier on Saturday, the reigning champion Individuals (3-0-0) remained undefeated with a lopsided 7-0 victory over Austria (0-3-0).

Austrian goalie Leon Sommer stopped 49 of the 56 photographs he confronted.

“I really like these sort of video games,” he stated with a smile. “A lot of photographs.”

Saturday’s workload wasn’t the most important Sommer has shouldered in world juniors motion – he confronted 64 photographs in a 11-2 loss to Canada earlier than COVID-19 scrubbed the unique 2022 event in December.

“I assume I get the robust ones,” the goalie stated. “However I really like these.”

Saturday’s closing recreation will pit Germany (1-1-0) towards winless Switzerland (0-2-0).

Canada will wrap up spherical robin play towards Finland (2-0-0) on Monday.

The preliminary spherical continues by means of Monday, with the quarterfinals set for Wednesday. The semifinals are scheduled for Friday and the medal video games can be performed subsequent Saturday.

NOTES: McTavish leads the event with 10 factors (six targets, 4 assists). … Canada has outscored its opponents 21-4 throughout its first three video games of the event. … Either side have been coming off a relaxation day after Canada routed Slovakia 11-1 on Thursday whereas the Czechs fell 4-3 in a shootout to Finland the identical day.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Aug. 13, 2022.