Team Canada dominated in their opening victory of the 2019 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Kosice, Slovakia on Sunday. After losing their first game of the tournament 3-1 to Finland on Friday, it was a complete Mother’s Day performance for Canada as they trounced Great Britain 8-0 to even their record to one win and one loss.
It was a marvelous game for Detroit Red Wings winger Anthony Mantha of Longueuil, Quebec, who had a team high five points. Mantha, who had two goals and three assists, was one of four Canadian players with a multi-point game. The others were Nashville Predators centre Kyle Turris of New Westminster, British Columbia (two goals and one assist for three points), Colorado Avalanche forward Tyson Jost of St. Albert, Alberta (two assists) and Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot of Saint-Marie, Quebec (two assists). The other Canadian goal scorers were Chicago Blackhawks centre Dylan Strome of Mississauga, Ontario, Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier of Bathurst, New Brunswick, Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro of Coquitlam, British Columbia and Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Mathieu Joseph of Chambly, Quebec. Joseph scored the game winning goal at 2:42 of the first period from Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse of Hamilton, Ontario and New Jersey Devils centre Adam Henrique of Brantford, Ontario.
Meanwhile, Carter Hart of Sherwood Park, Alberta made 12 saves for the shutout. The Philadelphia Flyers rookie netminder made four saves in the first period, two saves in the second period and six saves in the third period.
In other Team Canada news, Canadian Olympic gold medalist John Tavares of Mississauga, Ontario is out for the rest of the tournament with an oblique injury he suffered in practice before the World Championship began. The Maple Leafs centre won a gold medal for Canada in men’s ice hockey at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. He has been replaced by Jost and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec. Team Canada’s next game is Monday against Slovakia.
