Team Canada has won its first game of the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championship from Ostrava, Czech Republic. On Boxing Day, Canada defeated the United States 6-4 in a wild hockey game with many turns of momentum.
It was a fantastic game for Alexis Lafreniere of Saint-Eustache, Quebec. Lafreniere, a left winger for the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, notched one goal and three assists for four points. Lafreniere’s goal was an unassisted game winning marker which put Canada up 5-4, and came seven seconds after the United States tied the game at four goals apiece.
Arizona Coyotes centre Barrett Hayton of Peterborough, Ontario also had a multi-point game for Team Canada as he notched two goals. Other players on Team Canada with a goal were Kelowna Rockets left winger Nolan Foote of Kelowna, British Columbia (drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning), London Knights centre Connor McMichael of Ajax, Ontario (drafted by the Washington Capitals) and Flint Firebirds centre Ty Dellandrea of Port Perry, Ontario (drafted by the Dallas Stars).
In the game, the United States went up 2-0 after the first period. Canada marched back with three unanswered second period goals to take a 3-2 lead. Canada went up 4-2 in the third period, only to see the United States tie the game at four. Canada then scored the last two goals of the game to win by two.
Canada next plays Russia on Saturday. Other action on Boxing Day saw the Czech Republic beat Russia 4-3, Sweden over Finland 3-2 in overtime and Switzerland over Kazakhstan 5-3.
