2019-20 National Junior Team

CANADA BLANKED BY RUSSIA AT WORLD JUNIORS

JASON LA ROSE

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic – Nico Daws (Burlington, Ont./Guelph, OHL) and Joel Hofer (Winnipeg, Man./Portland, WHL) combined to make 34 saves, but Canada’s National Junior Team was held off the scoresheet in a 6-0 loss to Russia on Saturday at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The Canadian defeat means all five teams in Group B – Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Russia and the United States – have a win and loss midway through the preliminary round.

Alexander Khovanov started the scoring just 1:44 in, picking off an outlet pass at the Canadian blue-line and letting go a wrist shot that hit the blocker of Daws before popping up and over the goaltender.

Pavel Dorofyev made it 2-0 midway through the first when he found space behind the defence and roofed a backhand past Daws, and Nikita Rtishev banged in a rebound three-and-a-half minutes later for a 3-0 Russian lead after 20 minutes.

Canada picked up its offence in the second period, firing 14 shots on goal, but couldn’t find a way past Russian netminder Amir Miftakhov, who turned aside 28 shots in all to record just the fifth shutout against Canada in World Juniors history.

Nikita Alexandrov forced a change in the Canadian goal early in the middle frame when he drove down the right wing and tucked the 4-0 goal around Daws, who gave way to Hofer.

Hofer was solid in his 38 minutes of work, stopping 20 of 22 shots.

Yegor Sokolov got a piece of a shot from Yegor Zamula to make it 5-0 at 13:09 before Khovanov set up Grigori Denisenko to cap the scoring late in the middle frame.

Russia finished with a 40-28 advantage in shots on goal.

The Canadians will look to bounce back Monday when they take on Germany (9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT).

The IIHF World Junior Championship returns to Canadian ice next year when Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., host the 2021 World Juniors. Fans have until Jan. 5 to sign up for the Priority Draw for their chance to purchase tickets in both cities. Visit HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets for more information.