OSTRAVA, Czech Republic – Canada hasn’t won a world junior medal on European ice in 12 years.
They can finally end that drought this weekend.
Alexis Lafreniere didn’t show any rust in his return to action and the Canadians dominated the second period, exploding for four goals on 18 shots, to punch their ticket to the tournament semifinal 6-1 before 7,074 Thursday at Ostravar Arena.
Since the International Ice Hockey Federation has decided to re-seed for the semis based on the preliminary round results, their opponent will be determined after the Sweden-Czech Republic game later in the day.
There will be some nail-biting, though, over the fate of dangerous sniper Nolan Foote, ejected for a “check to the head or neck area” on his first shift 53 seconds into the contest. The Lightning first-rounder drilled Slovak Kristian Kovacik along the boards on the forecheck.
Though video replays suggest the first point of contact was lower than the head, that doesn’t hold a lot of weight with international officials.
If the IIHF disciplinary panel suspended Joe Veleno one game for a hardly-there head butt against Russia, then they could take a heavy-handed approach to a check that resulted in an injury.
Kovacik remained on the ice for a spell then was helped to the bench by team staff. He later retreated to the dressing room.
Canada, of course, has a deep enough roster to overcome the loss of one or two elite shooters.
Alexis Lafreniere, who missed the previous two wins with a left knee injury, sparked the offence and coach Dale Hunter’s trustworthy two London Knights – Connor McMichael and Liam Foudy – both struck on the rush in that game-altering middle frame.
Canadian captain Barrett Hayton opened the scoring and added another early in the third to chase Slovak starter Samuel Hlavaj of the Quebec league’s Sherbooke Phoenix. The two markers gave the Arizona Coyotes centre a team-best five tallies in five games.
Goaltender Joel Hofer won his third in a row and was sharp during the early five-minute penalty kill from Foote’s major. The Slovaks managed five shots on it, but couldn’t break through first. On their best attempt, he made a right pad save on a 2-on-1 that had forward Maxim Cajkovic shaking his head.
Hofer finally surrendered a goal to fellow Western leaguer Oliver Okuliar six minutes into the third. It was the first goal Slovakia had scored against Canada in five years, breaking a three-game shutout streak.
Lafreniere made an immediate impact six days after leaving the ice in agony against Russia. The NHL’s top prospect forward rammed Slovaks at every turn, showing off the confidence in his knee and provided a welcome mix of skill and energy.
He set up the opening goal and wired one through traffic on the power play in the second.
There is a cloud of uncertainty surrounding Foote.
But there isn’t about him.
