Lasse Boelius Resets the Game for Everyone
The Canadian junior hockey team is set to face Finland in a crucial match that airs at 20:30 on RDS. This matchup marks Canada’s fourth game in the Junior World Championship. The team is eager to maintain its unbeaten streak in the group stage and could secure the top spot in Group B with a win or a loss in overtime.
Current Standings: Canada Out in Front
Canada currently leads Group B with 8 points, just one point ahead of Finland. After winning their first three matches, they needed overtime to claim victory against Latvia, which explains why they have not collected the full 9 points. Finland, meanwhile, suffered a narrow defeat against the Czech Republic in overtime, losing 2-1.
Game Highlights
Canada set the tone early in the game with a quick goal from defenseman Zayne Parekh, who scored just over a minute into play. He capitalized on a sharp pass from Porter Martone, marking his fourth goal of the tournament. Finland answered back with a goal from Julius Miettinen two minutes later, showcasing their resilience.
Canada regained the lead 32 seconds after Miettinen’s goal, with Brady Martin scoring thanks to an assist from Michael Hage, who tallied his seventh point of the tournament. However, Finland leveled the score again shortly after, this time through Oliver Suvanto, who took advantage of a rebound from Canadian goaltender Carter George.
Canada quickly took the lead once more during a power play, with Martin netting his second goal of the period just 13 seconds in. Both Hage and Parekh provided assists on that goal, as Canada capitalized on their advantage.
The first period was chaotic, with Finland answering back again via Lasse Boelius, who scored from the blue line on their own power play. Canada’s coach Dale Hunter challenged the call but was unsuccessful in overturning the goal.
Looking Ahead
The Canadian team has bounced back impressively after a lackluster performance against Latvia and a shaky opening match against the Czech Republic. They decisively defeated Denmark 9-1, where Gavin McKenna, a top prospect for the upcoming NHL draft, scored a hat trick. Fellow prospects Michael Hage, Michael Misa, Porter Martone, and Brady Martin rounded out the scoring with multiple points each.
As Canada prepares to face Finland, they will be tested by a solid defensive team that has allowed only four goals in three matches so far. It will be interesting to see if Canada’s high-scoring capabilities, having netted 18 goals in the tournament, can penetrate Finland’s formidable defense.
