Canada resisted a tough opposition from Finland on Monday morning in Czechia to launch its Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a 5-3 victory.
Canada, which aims for a fourth gold medal, has escaped an advance of two goals in the first period. The team finally resumed pace from the end of the second period to spin towards victory.
Captain Keaton Verhoeff did well with a harvest of a goal and help, just like Ryan Lin and Ethan Belchetz.
Beckham Edwards and Dimian Zhilkin also hit the bull’s eye for Canada, which will face Switzerland on Tuesday for its second match.
Canada goalkeeper Gavin Betts pushed 22 shots in victory.
Canada quickly imposed the pace to take 2-0 orders in the first half of the first period.
After only 58 seconds of play, Beckham Edwards surprised the Finnish goalkeeper of the circle of playing while turning around.
Then eight minutes later, goalkeeper William Gammals was unable to control a Tynan Lawrence throw. Defender Keaton Verhoeff took the opportunity to support the attack and push the return to the bottom of the net in order to double the advance.
But a release from Canada at the end of the period opened the door to Finland. With a little over six minutes to play, a beautiful breakthrough of Oliver Suvanto allowed him to put the lapel washer in front of the net. Oscar Hemming had only to push the washer behind Gavin Betts to reduce the gap by half.
In the last minute of play of the initial period, Jiko Laitinen was very patient in the enclave, and then slide the washer to the bottom of the net and bring everyone back to square one.
Canada was denied a goal in the first moments of the median period, but the unifolié returned to the charge before the end of the commitment. With eight seconds to play during the period, Ryan Lin has given back the lead in Canada with a goal of a shot on a counter-attack reception.
Canada’s advance was doubled in the middle of the third period, when Dimian Zhilkin’s low shot beaten gammals between the leggings.
A digital advantage has allowed Vilho Vanhataklo to reduce the gap with less than four minutes to play in the match, but Canada completed the brand in a deserted net.