Scott Wedgewood (Plymouth, OHL) made 26 saves to record a shutout as Canada cruised to a 5-0 victory over the Czech Republic on Wednesday night. 

Canada scored the lone goal of the first period, as Mark Stone (Brandon, WHL) buried his fourth goal of the tournament.  Linemates Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John, QMJHL) and Ryan Strome (Niagara, OHL) each recorded assists on the goal to continue their hot play from the previous game. 

Wedgewood, getting his first start of the tournament, stopped ten shots in the period to preserve the 1-0 lead. 

Most of the second period was scoreless until Strome scored on the powerplay at 16:14 of the middle frame to give Canada the 2-0 edge.  Niagara teammate Freddie Hamilton and Wedgewood registered assists on the goal. 

Canada continued to put pressure on the Czech team, scoring another goal at 18:14, this time on a Brett Connolly (Tampa Bay, NHL) marker.  Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw, WHL) and Michael Bournival (Shawinigan, QMJHL) tallied their first points of the tournament with assists on the goal. 

Mark Scheifele (Barrie, OHL) extended the Canadian lead to 4-0 with a goal in the third period, his first point of the tournament.  Barrie teammate Tanner Pearson received the only assist on the scoring play. 

Scheifele would add his second goal of the game at 14:40 of the third period, a powerplay marker to increase the lead to five goals.  Pearson and Brandon Gormley (Moncton, QMJHL) recorded the assists on the final Canada goal. 

Niagara IceDogs forward Freddie Hamilton was named the Player of the Game for Canada. 

Canada's next game is Thursday night as they square off with Denmark at 8:00pm ET.

Game Summary
1. CAN Mark Stone (4) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Ryan Strome)
2. CAN Ryan Strome (2) (Freddie Hamilton, Scott Wedgewood) PP
2. CAN Brett Connolly (2) (Quinton Howden, Michaël Bournival)
3. CAN Mark Scheifele (1) (Tanner Pearson)
3. CAN Mark Scheifele (2) (Tanner Pearson, Brandon Gormley) PP

Photo by Andy Devlin (Hockey Canada Images)