Canada downs Finland to open 2024 world junior tournament

Canada opened the 2024 world junior hockey championship in winning fashion Tuesday, posting a 5-2 victory over Finland in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Canada is the two-time defending tournament champion.

The Canadian squad includes Saskatoon-born Brayden Yager of the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors, Moose Jaw defenceman Denton Mateychuk and Saskatoon Blades centre Fraser Minten.

Minten was named Team Canada’s captain before the tournament.

Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk initially was named to the team, but he suffered a wrist injury in a pre-tournament game against Switzerland on Friday and won’t play in the event.

On Tuesday, the Canadians opened the scoring at 16:24 of the first period, with a point shot deflecting off Nate Danielson and into the net.

Mateychuk drew an assist on the goal, which came less than a minute after Canadian goalie Mathis Rousseau made a spectacular glove save on a Finnish two-on-none breakaway.

Danielson was in on Canada’s second goal as well, setting up Owen Allard in front of the Finland net for a goal at 13:41 of the second period.

But the two-goal lead was short-lived, as Aleksanteri Kaskimaki sniped for the Finns at 15:56 of the middle frame.

The Canadians regained their two-goal advantage at 6:38 of the third when Macklin Celebrini — the projected first pick overall in the 2024 NHL draft — jammed a puck under Finnish netminder Niklas Kokko and across the goal line.

After an empty-net goal by Matt Poitras made it 4-1 for Canada at 17:34 of the third, Jere Lassila scored for Finland at 18:56 to cut the lead to two again. But Maveric Lamoureux sealed the deal for Canada with another empty-netter at 19:54 of the third.

Yager and Minten were held off the scoresheet.

Rousseau made 24 saves in the Canadian net, while Kokko stopped 26 shots for the Finns.

The Canadians are to face Latvia on Wednesday. Live coverage on 980 CJME and 650 CKOM begins at noon with the pre-game show, with puck drop to follow at 12:30 p.m.