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Monday was the first day of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, which is being held at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Avenir Centre in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Day 1 games
Czechia 5, Canada 2 -- Jaroslav Chmelar (New York Rangers) and Matous Mensik (2023 draft eligible) scored power-play goals 33 seconds apart in the second period to break the game open in a Group A game at Scotiabank Centre.
It was Czechia's second victory against Canada, and first regulation, in 24 games at the World Juniors, including a 5-4 shootout win at the 2014 tournament.
David Spacek (Minnesota Wild) and Stanislav Svozil (Columbus Blue Jackets) each had a goal and an assist for Czechia. Tomas Suchanek (2023 draft eligible) made 36 saves and had an assist.
"It's unreal," Svozil said. "This was just the first game of the tournament, and we knew we had to win two games to qualify [for the playoffs], so this is nice. When we got that fifth goal and they had only two, we felt we were in control."
Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, scored for Canada. Benjamin Gaudreau (San Jose Sharks) allowed five goals on 16 shots before being replaced in the second period by Thomas Milic (2023 draft eligible), who made 11 saves.
It's the first time Canada has lost its first game at the World Juniors since a 6-4 loss to the United States in 2016.
"They outworked us," Canada forward Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) said. "You can't take any team lightly. They had a good game, so credit to them. It's a learning curve. They say you win or you learn, and tonight it was learning.
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United States 5, Latvia 2 -- Sean Behrens (Colorado Avalanche) and Redmond Savage (Detroit Red Wings) each had a goal and an assist in a Group B game at Avenir Centre.
Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis Blues), Chaz Lucius (Winnipeg Jets) and Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils) each scored, and Trey Augustine (2023 draft eligible) made 15 saves.
Anri Ravinskis (2023 draft eligible) and Niks Fenenko (2023 draft eligible) scored for Latvia. Patricks Berzins (2023 draft eligible) made 41 saves.
The U.S. broke the game open with three goals in the third period.
"We just settled down for the third and kind of played with more character," U.S. coach Rand Pecknold said.
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Savage extended it to 4-2 at 6:48 when he scored on the rebound of a shot by Dylan Duke (Tampa Bay Lightning).
Hughes, the U.S. captain, scored from the point to make it 5-2 at 13:29.
Snuggerud gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead 24 seconds into the second period when he knocked in a loose puck in the crease.
Ravinskis tied it at 4:59, finishing a give-and-go with Rainers Rullers (2023 draft eligible).
Behrens gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead at 9:17 when he one-timed a pass to the point by Savage.
Latvia tied the game on Fenenko's goal at 14:24 through a screen.
"We're not proud because we lost, but we gave them a good battle," Ravinskis said. "So it was a good game. We made some mistakes, especially the third period wasn't the best