Owen Power of Mississauga, Ontario, the first overall pick from the Buffalo Sabres in the 2021 National Hockey League Entry Draft, made Canadian hockey history on Boxing Day. He became the first Canadian defenseman to ever record a hat trick during the World Junior Hockey Championship according to Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. Power accomplished the feat in a 6-3 Canada win over the Czech Republic to open the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton, Alberta.
Power, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, was one of three Canadians to record a multi-point game. Winnipeg Jets first round pick Cole Perfetti of Whitby, Ontario had three assists, while Anaheim Ducks first round pick Mason McTavish of Carp, Ontario had one goal and one assist for two points. The other two Canadian goal scorers were defensemen Olen Zellweger of Calgary, Alberta, and Donovan Sebrango of Ottawa, Ontario. Zellweger is a second round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks, and Sebrango is a third round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings.
In the game against the Czech Republic, Canada was once trailing 3-1 before scoring five unanswered goals. A major turning point in the contest came in the second period when Czech defenseman David Jiricek injured his leg and was unable to return. Jiricek is one of the top defenseman on Czech Republic and is expected to be a first round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
