Canada 14 Denmark 0
Cody Glass has played in 227 @TheWHL games…has never had a 4 assist game…in his first game at #WorldJuniors, he has 4 assists for @HockeyCanada . #apples
— Andy Kemper (@AndyKemper) December 27, 2018
For the host country, their start for the 2019 World Juniors could not have been better. They scored early and often on Denmark blowing past them 14-0.
Medicine Hat Tigers goalie Mads Sogaard was chased from his net after giving up 11 goals on 41 shots and taking a stick to the neck. His replacement did no better as Canada scored thrice on him on just four shots.
It was never a contest.
Prince Albert Raiders forward Brett Leason picked a Danish pocket at the blue line and sent Morgan Frost in for a goal under five minutes in. Frost had two more markers for a hat trick before the game was 22 minutes old.
Morgan Frost makes it 1-0 Canada. Fitting how good he was during the pre-tournament. What a nice move after a great shift for him. #WJC2019 #Flyers pic.twitter.com/8pQnBofd0v
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) December 27, 2018
Portland Winterhawks center Cody Glass had four assists in the game, with three of them being of the primary variety.
Making matters worse for the Danes in the second period was Spokane Chiefs center Jaret Anderson-Dolan netting a goal in his first game that counted since October 27th after suffering a broken wrist.
Jaret Anderson-Dolan (@LAKings prospect, selected #41 in 2017) spins and snipes one home!
??#CAN 8 – 0 #DEN?? pic.twitter.com/ptGfrRvRCy
— Hockey Daily (@HockeyDaily365) December 27, 2018
Ending Sogaard’s night was Leason, who notched one on a slick wrist shot.
Brett Leason (2019 draft prospect currently with @PARaidersHockey) makes it 11-0 Canada!
??#CAN 11 – 0 #DEN?? pic.twitter.com/aouYDTYfg5
— Hockey Daily (@HockeyDaily365) December 27, 2018
He then greeted the new goalie with another snipe, giving him two goals and two assists in the game for four points.
Brett Leason (2019 draft prospect currently with @PARaidersHockey) tallies another in quick succession of the first!
??#CAN 12 – 0 #DEN?? pic.twitter.com/khj8O7ejbZ
— Hockey Daily (@HockeyDaily365) December 27, 2018
Canada would add two more to run up two touchdowns on the scoreboard at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Canada gets right back to trying to fill the net again tomorrow in Group A action, while Sogaard and Denmark get another tough test in Russia the same day.
WHL notables:
Canada
- Cody Glass (Portland) – 4 assists – 9/12 faceoffs – 1 shot on goal – +4 – 12:39 time on ice
- Brett Leason (Prince Albert) – 2 goals – 2 assists – 4 shots on goal – +6 – 16:03 time on ice
- Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Spokane) – 1 goal – 7/10 faceoffs – 3 shots on goal – +2 – 16:38 time on ice
- Ty Smith (Spokane) – 1 assist – 1 shot on goal +4 – 21:17 time on ice (led team)
- Josh Brook (Moose Jaw) – 1 assist – 2 shots on goal – +3 – 16:31 time on ice
- Ian Scott (Prince Albert) – did not play
Denmark
- Mads Sogaard (Medicine Hat) – 30 saves on 41 shots
- Phillip Schultz (Victoria) – 1/3 faceoffs – 1 shot on goal – minus 2 – 16:53 time on ice – was stopped on a penalty shot.
Michael DiPietro stops Phillip Schultz on the penalty shot. #WJC2019 pic.twitter.com/V2dvz3uMIC
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) December 27, 2018
Czech Republic 2 Switzerland 1 (OT)
Defenseman David Kvasnicka was the overtime hero in the first game of Group A in Vancouver.
The Swiss opened the scoring on a play off the end boards on the power play, but the Czechs responded just 1:17 later in the second period with Brandon Wheat Kings import pick Martin Kaut (never signed with them) sneaking a backhand try by the Swiss goalie.
There was no more scoring in the game, though Tri-City Americans forward Krystof Hrabik rang a shot off the post.
Martin Kaut (@Avalanche, #16 in 2018) and Martin Necas (@NHLCanes, #12 in 2017) play catch to set up Krystof Hrabik (@TCAmericans) who doinks one off the post to keep the game tied!
??#SUI 1 – 1 #CZE?? pic.twitter.com/ZpigBenp0r
— Hockey Daily (@HockeyDaily365) December 26, 2018
Ultimately the Czechs got the OT winner as Kvasnicka stick handled back to the point and beat Luca Hollenstein just 52 seconds in to give them the big win.
The Czech Republic next plays Russia on Friday, while Switzerland battles Canada Thursday.
WHL notables:
Czech Republic
- Krystof Hrabik (Tri-City) – 6/7 faceoffs – 2 shots on goal – +1 – 21:03 time on ice
- Filip Kral (Spokane) – 3 shots on goal – 20:40 time on ice
- Jiri Patera (Brandon) – did not play