Team Canada rolled to a 8-1 victory over Finland on Monday night. Niagara IceDogs forward Ryan Strome recorded a goal and three assists while goaltender Mark Visentin made a number of timely saves for his first win of the tournament.  Dougie Hamilton (one goal, one assist) and Freddie Hamilton (one assist) also contributed to the Canadian victory. 

Canada jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Mark Stone (Brandon, WHL) deposited his first goal of the tournament at 2:14 of the first period. Ryan Strome (Niagara, OHL) and Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John, QMJHL) received assists on the goal.

Minutes later, the lead would get extended to 2-0 as Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver, WHL) batted the puck out of the air passed Finnish netminder John Gibson. Team captain Jaden Schwartz (Colorado College, WCHA) and defenceman Dougie Hamilton (Niagara, OHL) were credited with the assists.

Canada outshot Finland 12-6 in the first period. Niagara IceDogs goaltender Mark Visentin looked sharp, making some great saves to keep the Finns off the board and preserve the two goal advantage.

Finland would open the scoring in the second period, cutting Canada’s lead to 2-1 just 1:21 into the frame. Stone would restore the two goal lead by scoring his second goal of the game, making it 3-1. Freddie Hamilton (Niagara, OHL) and Huberdeau garnered the assists.

With Finland serving their first penalty of the game, Huberdeau would convert on the powerplay, increasing the lead to 4-1. Tanner Pearson (Barrie, OHL) and Nathan Beaulieu (Saint John, QMJHL) collected the assists.

On Canada’s next powerplay opportunity, Dougie Hamilton would blast a point shot passed Gibson to give Canada a 5-1 lead. Schwartz and Strome would record the assists.

Mark Visentin turned aside 10 more shots in the second period.

The offensive barrage did not stop in the third period as Brett Connolly (Tampa Bay, NHL) added another goal just 52 seconds in. Pearson and Brandon Gormley (Moncton, QMJHL) collected the assists on the play.

Just over three minutes later, Stone buried his third goal of the game, giving Canada a 7-1 lead over the Finns. Huberdeau and Strome received assists, continuing their strong play.

Strome would add onto his strong performance with a goal, beating Gibson with a snap shot from just inside the blue line; his fourth point of the game. Huberdeau and Gallagher had the assists.

The game would end 8-1 in favour of Canada, a strong start to the 2012 World Junior Championship. Visentin was solid in goal, making some spectacular saves en route to his first win of the tournament.

Team Canada’s next game is Wednesday, December 28th against the Czech Republic.


Game Summary
1. CAN Mark Stone (1) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Ryan Strome)
1. CAN Brendan Gallagher (1) (Jaden Schwartz, Dougie Hamilton)
2. FIN Alexander Ruuttu (1) (Miro Aaltonen, Aleksander Barkov)
2. CAN Mark Stone (2) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Freddie Hamilton)
2. CAN Jonathan Huberdeau (1) (Tanner Pearson, Nathan Beaulieu) PP
2. CAN Dougie Hamilton (1) (Ryan Strome, Jaden Schwartz) PP
3. CAN Brett Connolly (1) (Tanner Pearson, Brandon Gormley)
3. CAN Mark Stone (3) (Jonathan Huberdeau, Ryan Strome)
3. CAN Ryan Strome (1) (Brendan Gallagher, Jonathan Huberdeau)

Photo by Andy Devlin (Hockey Canada Images)