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Newcomers do it all

Canada's late additions score big in win

Published 17.04.2017 18:21 GMT+2 | Author Andrew Podnieks
Newcomers do it all
POPRAD, SLOVAKIA - APRIL 17: Canada's Kyle Olson #15 and David Noel #23 celebrate after their teammate Jack Studnicka #22 first period goal against Switzerland during preliminary round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)
Cody Glass and Jack Studnicka both arrived in Poprad yesterday from Canada, and both scored twice today in their team's 7-3 win over Switzerland.

Glass added an assist to make it a three-point debut.

"We arrived yesterday after a nine-hour flight, and I just napped when I got to my hotel," Glass said. "Studnicka and I didn't skate with the team until today. That's it. I just tried to play my game today, and it worked out well. We have a great group of guys here."

"It was a tough turnaround," Sudnicka added. "The day we lost in the playoffs it was a 2 o'clock game, and I got a call right away to be at the aiport at 10. I was sad about the loss, of course, but happy about the opportunity to represent my country. I watched all their games back home."

The Swiss kept the score close but were always playing from behind and couldn't quite put enough pressure on Canada. The result was a 7-3 score.

The win gives Canada eight points in Group A, one behind Finland. The teams will play tomororw night with first place on the line.

The Swiss remain in third with three points and have qualified for the quarter-finals, but they'll play either the first- or second-place team from Group B, not an easy task.

"We didn't have a very good start," admitted Philipp Kurashev, "and if you don't play 60 minutes against a good team like Canada, it's hard to win."

After a slow start to the game, Canada opened the scoring midway through the first when a harmless-looking shot from Kyle Olson was tipped in front by Studnicka.

"It was great to get that first one," Studnicka said. "It kind of got the nerves out of the way."

Less than three minutes later, it was 2-0. Jocktan Chainey made a nice pass to Glass, who beat Zaetta through the pads at 12:29.

Studnicka got his second of the day at 3:31 of the second. Matthew Strome his him with a nice pass, and Studnicka got his body in position to fire home a one-timer.

But Canada didn't do things the easy way. A power play midway through the period proved costly when Keijo Weibel scooped up a loose puck in centre ice and went in alone on McGrath, beating him 5-hole with a nice finish for a short-handed goal.

Canada thought it had increased the lead to 4-1 a bit later, but video review ruled that Stylianos Mattheos tipped the puck in with a high stick.

That, too, proved to be a costly turn of events for Canada, and a fortuitous one for the Swiss. Canada took two late penalties just four seconds apart, and the Swiss scored with the lengthy 5-on-3. Simon le Coultre made a great slap-pass form the point, and Kurashev made an equally nice re-direct past McGrath.

"I tried to get to the front of the net in case there was a rebound," Kurashev said. "The defenceman saw me and made a nice hard pass, and I just tipped it."

All of a sudden, it was 3-2 and the Swiss were gaining in confidence.

Canada, however, was quick to wipe that away in the third. Glass got his second of the game on a similar play to Kurashev's goal. This time it was Chainey at the point finding Glass in front for the tip just 1:15 in.

Glass added an assist at 9:47 off the rush, dropping a pass to Olson, who wired a shot past Zaetta.

Nando Eggenberger got a late goal for the Swiss, knocking in a rebound while falling to the ice at 16:07.

With nothing to lose, Swiss coach Thierry Paterlini pulled Zaetta with more than three minutes to go, but Mattheos put one in the empty net to seal the deal.

Mackenzie Entwistle finished the scoring with a goal at 19:41.

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