2006-07 National Men's Under-18 Team

CANADA BLANKS CZECHS IN JUNIOR WORLD CUP TUNE-UP GAME

Breclav, Czech Republic – Canada scored two shorthanded goals and Justin Leclerc and Trevor Cann shared a shutout in net, as Canada scored a 5-0 win over the Czech Republic in its only tune-up game for the Junior World Cup.

Canada’s actual journey to the rink proved to be quite an adventure.  The bus carrying Team Canada to Breclav, Czech Republic from Piestany, Slovakia was delayed on two occasions en route.  First, a serious two-car accident forced the bus to backtrack and use a longer route.  Secondly, the team was detained for close to 30 minutes at the Czech border.  The team arrived at the rink some 20 minutes before warm-up.  The players were on the ice in time for warm-up, but a damp day led to a foggy experience.  Fans and rink attendants scrambled to wipe the glass clean for fans to get a good look.

The Czechs took the exhibition game as an opportunity to see some additional players, and only 10 players from their Junior World Cup roster were dressed for the game vs. Canada.

This being said, Canada had the start that it was looking for.  After killing off an early penalty, a Czech penalty led to Canada’s first goal.  The Czech penalty had just ended, when Colton Gillies (Surrey, BC/ Saskatoon, WHL) made a great individual to split the Czech defence and beat Czech goaltender Robin Blazicek at 5:50 to open the scoring.

At 7:56, Canada made it 2-0.  On the power play, John Negrin (West Vancouver, BC/ Kootenay, WHL) let a shot go from the point and it beat the goaltender on a change of direction.   Canada headed back to their dressing room with a 2-0 lead after the first period.

Despite three straight power plays in the middle frame, Canada didn’t add to its lead.  Justin Leclerc (Saskatoon, SK/ Lethbridge, AB) gave way to Trevor Cann (Oakville, ON/ Peterborough, OHL) in net at 10:22 of the period.

It took a Czech power play for Canada to get back on the offensive.  With Gillies in the penalty box for goaltender interference, Tyler Ennis (Edmonton, AB/ Medicine Hat, WHL) stole the puck from a Czech defenceman deep in their zone, outwaited the goaltender Blazicek, and slid the puck under the netminder to give Canada a 3-0 lead through two periods of play.

At 12:54 of the third, while killing a penalty Olivier Fortier (Quebec City,QC/ Rimouski, QMJHL) beat a Czech defenceman to the puck, fed Angelo Esposito (Montreal, QC/ Quebec, QMJHL) who was alone front and he fired it past Blazicek. Kyle Turris (New Westminster, BC/ Burnaby, BCHL) added a breakaway goal in the dying seconds of the game, as Canada skated to a 5-0 win.  Leclerc and Cann shared a perfect outing in net.

The 2006 Junior World Cup gets underway on Tuesday, August 8th.  Canada faces Switzerland in its opening game.