Team Canada will face Slovakia in the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia. On Saturday, Canada beat Sweden 5-1 to finish in second place in Group A.
The Canadian team was led in scoring by Regina Pats center Connor Bedard of North Vancouver, British Columbia. The 17-year-old who is expected to be the first overall pick in the 2023 National Hockey League Entry Draft, led Canada in scoring for the third straight game as he had four assists for four points.
Bedard was one of two Canadian players to have a multi-point game. The other was Peterborough Petes left winger Brennan Othmann of Pickering, Ontario, who had two goals. The other three goal scorers were Sherbrooke Phoenix right winger Joshua Roy of Saint-Georges-De-Bea, Quebec, Sherbrooke Phoenix defenseman Tyson Hinds of Gatineau, Quebec, and Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Kevin Korchinski of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
It has been an outstanding World Juniors for Bedard. In four games, he has six goals and 12 assists for 18 points. Bedard now has 31 points in his World Junior career, which ties him with Eric Lindros of London, Ontario for the most points by a Canadian in the history of the tournament. Bedard has 14 goals and 17 assists. Bedard’s 12 assists at a single World Junior Hockey Championship ties the Canadian record with Jason Allison of North York, Ontario, who had 12 helpers at the 1995 World Junior Hockey Championship in Red Deer, Alberta. Bedard’s 18 points at a single World Junior Hockey Championship ties the Canadian record with Dale McCourt of Falconbridge, Ontario, who had 18 points at the 1977 World Junior Hockey Championship in Banska Bystrica and Zvolen, Czechoslovakia, and with Brayden Schenn of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, who had 18 points at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, New York.
Canada will play Slovakia in Halifax on Monday. Halifax will also host the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The quarterfinal games in Moncton on Monday will feature Germany and the United States, and Finland versus Sweden.
