from www.hockeycanada.ca
FARGO, N.D. Canada had plenty to work on heading into the world under-18 hockey championship.
It looks like the power play is functioning just fine.
Ethan Werek and Joey Hishon each scored twice on the power play, and the Canadians once again took advantage of an opponent’s lack of discipline in an 8-1 win over Switzerland on Saturday.
Hishon, of the Owen Sound Attack scored three times for Canada who had five man-advantage goals against the Swiss. Canada had four goals in five power-play chances in its tournament-opening 11-2 rout of Germany on Thursday.
Canadian head coach Mike Johnston applauded his team’s special teams.
We focused on (special teams) from day one of our camp and it’s something our guys feel comfortable with, said Johnston, the head coach of the WHL’s Portland Winter Hawks.
We had a good start tonight and their goaltender was solid in the first period, he added.
We built momentum as the game went along and our finishers had their chance and put them away.
Ryan O’Reilly of the OHL’s Erie Otters, Landon Ferraro of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, John McFarland of the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves and Zach Kassian of the OHL’s Peterborough Petes had the other goals for Canada (2-0), while Michael Zador of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals earned the win in goal.
Nino Niederreiter had the lone goal for Switzerland (0-2).
Johnston said prior to the tournament that it would be difficult to get his team to mesh on short notice. But two games in, it’s hard to see any weaknesses.
As they did in Thursday’s tournament-opening win over Germany, the Canadians overcame a so-so first period by dominating thoroughly in the second. And for the second straight game, it was the power play that led the way.
With Nicholas Steiner serving a holding penalty, O’Reilly beat Swiss netminder Sebastien Conz to extend Canada’s lead to 3-1. Ferraro, the son of longtime NHL forward Ray Ferraro, made it 4-1 at 9:34 with Tristan Scherwey in the box for tripping.
Hishon’s first of the tournament at 19:33 was the first even-strength goal of the game. He added a man-advantage goal 6:03 into the third period to make it 6-1. McFarland and Kassian completed the scoring in the final four minutes.
The games will get tougher for Canada, beginning with Monday’s showdown against the Czech Republic (1-1). The Canadians finish Pool A play against Sweden (2-0) on Tuesday.
The Czechs are one of the top countries in the world, in this tournament they don’t have as many players high-end players that are getting looked at by NHL teams, but I like their lineup, said Johnston.
They’re going to be the strong opponents we’ve faced up to this point.
Switzerland opened the game with a parade to the penalty box taking three minors in the first nine-and-a-half minutes and Canada took advantage at 10:11, as Werek beat Conz.
Swiss forward Thomas Mettler was given a slashing minor less than two minutes later, and Werek extended Canada’s lead with another power-play goal at 13:46.
Switzerland halved the deficit on their only man advantage of the period. With Brayden McNabb of the WHL’s Kootenay Ice serving a tripping minor, Niederreiter fired a shot past Zador with 47 seconds left in the period.
In other Pool A action, the Swedes held on for a 5-4 win over Germany (0-2) at Moorhead, N.D.
Pool B games later Saturday featured the host Americans (1-0) taking on Finland (1-0) and Russia (0-1) taking on Slovakia (1-0).
Game Information/Reseignements sur le match
Event/vnement 2009 World U-18 Champ. Location/Emplacement Fargo, ND
Date Sat. Apr. 11, 2009 Arena/Arna Urban Plains Center
Time/Heure 4:00 pm CEN Attendance/Assistance -,—
Round/Ronde Preliminary Game # 08
Box Score/Compte 1 2 3 Final
CAN 2 3 3 8
SUI 1 0 – 1
Goals/Penalties
First Period/Premire priode
Goals/Buts :
10:11 CAN Ethan Werek (Stefan Elliott, Ryan OReilly) PP/AN
13:46 CAN Ethan Werek (Erik Gudbranson) PP/AN
19:13 SUI Nino Niederreiter (Thomas Mettler, Reto Schappi) PP/AN
Penalties/Pnalits :
05:09 SUI Ryan McGregor (Holding/Retenir)
06:35 SUI Tristan Scherwey (Delay of Game/Retarder le match)
09:27 SUI Romain Loffel (Slashing/Coup de bton)
11:55 SUI Thomas Mettler (Slashing/Coup de bton)
18:05 CAN Brayden McNabb (Tripping/Faire trbucher)
Second Period/Deuxime priode
Goals/Buts :
07:55 CAN Ryan OReilly (Dylan Olsen, Calvin de Haan) PP/AN
09:34 CAN Joey Hishon (John McFarland) PP/AN
19:33 CAN Joey Hishon (John McFarland)
Penalties/Pnalits :
03:36 CAN Taylor Doherty (Roughing/Rudesse)
06:45 SUI Nicholas Steiner (Holding/Retenir)
08:51 SUI Tristan Scherwey (Boarding/Donner de la bande)
14:08 CAN Simon Desprs (Interference/Obstruction)
16:23 CAN Peter Holland (Hooking/Accrocher)
Third Period/Troisime priode
Goals/Buts :
06:03 CAN Joey Hishon (John McFarland, Dylan Olsen) PP/AN
16:34 CAN John McFarland (Landon Ferraro)
19:17 CAN Zack Kassian (Peter Holland)
Penalties/Pnalits :
00:56 CAN Landon Ferraro (Hooking/Accrocher)
14:32 CAN Ethan Werek (Roughing/Rudesse)
14:32 SUI Romain Loffel (Roughing/Rudesse)
15:02 SUI Samuel Erni (Holding/Retenir)
16:47 CAN Garrett Mitchell (Cross-checking/Double-chec)
