OSTRAVA, Czech Republic – Nolan Foote (Kelowna, B.C./Kelowna, WHL), Liam Foudy (Scarborough, Ont./London, OHL) and Ty Dellandrea (Port Perry, Ont./Flint, OHL) posted a goal and an assist each, leading Canada’s National Junior Team to a 4-1 win over Germany on Monday at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The victory, the 14th in as many tries against Germany at the World Juniors, puts Canada in the driver’s seat in Group B – it can clinch top spot in the group with a win over the host Czechs in the preliminary-round finale Tuesday (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT).
Joel Hofer (Winnipeg, Man./Portland, WHL) made 18 saves to record the win in his first international start, and came within 67 seconds of a shutout.
The Canadians came out with jump, outshooting Germany 12-7 in the first period, and Foote corralled a loose puck in the slot and rifled a quick shot under the bar 12 minutes in for a 1-0 lead.
Foudy doubled the advantage 12:24 into the second period, walking in off the blue-line and finding space through traffic and past German goaltender Hendrik Hane, and Calen Addison (Brandon, Man./Lethbridge, WHL) hammered in a point shot on a five-on-three just 1:37 after that to make it 3-0.
Hofer was at his best in the second period, making a left-pad stop off Dominik Bokk on a two-on-one and denying John Peterka with the glove on a shorthanded breakaway just seconds before the Addison goal.
Penalty trouble led to the lone German goal late in the third period; Yannik Valenti ripped a one-timer past Hofer on a two-man advantage.
Dellandrea capped the scoring into an empty net with 10 seconds to go.
Quotes:
“It was a tough game. The Germans play hard and we were missing a couple of key guys. Lines were moved around, we had guys in new roles and new guys on the PP and PK, and everyone adjusted really well. [It is an] important win and now we get ready for a quick turnaround with the Czechs tomorrow night.”
- Team Canada head coach Dale Hunter (Petrolia, Ont./London, OHL) on changes to the line-up
“He made a couple of big saves early in the second. He’s calm and he just goes about his business.”
- Hunter on Hofer
“The guys played great today. They gave me some clean looks and moved the puck out of our end quickly. It’s pretty exciting to get my first win for Canada. Amazing to share it with this team and my family. Guys got me the puck, so I’ve got that with me.”
- Hofer on his first international win
“It was a challenging game, but the guys really stepped up with people playing different roles tonight. The fan support is amazing. It’s fun to see so many Canadian jerseys here.”
- Foote on the win and the atmosphere
