Canada opens with record setting win

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

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Canada sets new record with World Junior win

By Aaron Bell

John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals scored two goals to lead Canada to a 3-0 record setting win over the Czech Republic in their opening game of the World Junior Championships on Boxing Day in Pardubice, Czech Republic.

The win gave Canada 19 consecutive victories dating back to 2005.

Tavares, who isn’t eligible for the NHL Draft until 2009, opened the scoring when he converted a one-time pass from Logan Pyett of the Regina Pats on a powerplay in the second period. He capped the win with a powerplay marker in the third period.

“It’s amazing to contribute like I did tonight,” said Tavares, the OHL’s leading scorer with 68 points in 30 games. “All lines were clicking. It was a real big team effort in a pretty loud building against a very good hockey club. It was great to contribute tonight.”

Matt Halischuk of the Kitchener Rangers also scored in the second period and Sarnia Sting centre Steve Stamkos, who is projected to be the first overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, chipped in with three assists in the win.

“It was unreal - I could never imagine a start like this,” Stamkos said. “The crowd was unreal – I’ve never seen fans like that. To chip in like John and I did was a dream come true for us. It was unbelievable.”

Steve Bernier of the Lewiston MAINEiacs made 30 saves for the shutout. He made a couple of spectacular saves early in the game with the Czechs on the powerplay. He was Canada’s player of the game.

“I have to give credit to the guys – they never gave up,” Bernier said. “I had to make those (first) saves to keep my team in the game. We wanted to score the first goal and we did so that was great. From the first minute until the end, the atmosphere was unbelievable.”

Bernier helped Canada kill off nine Czech powerplays in the win.

“He was amazing,” Tavares said. “You can see how calm and patient he is. He knows what it takes to get it done.”

Michal Neuvirth of the Windsor Spitfires was the Czech player of the game after making 41 saves in the loss.

Canada is back in action on Thursday against Slovakia (10:00 a.m. Eastern on TSN and RDS).

“It’s going to be a big regroup for us,” Stamkos said. “This was the biggest game of our life and now that is our biggest game. We’ve seen the Slovaks before and they will come out strong.”

The U.S.A., Russia and Sweden were also winners in the opening day of the tournament.

Complete coverage of Team Canada at the World Junior Championships is available at HockeyCanada.ca.

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