It was another dominating performance for Canada in their final game of Group A play at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Breclav, Czech Republic.
Hendrix Lapierre (Chicoutimi Sagueneens) led the way with a goal and two assists, while Quinton Byfield (Sudbury Wolves) scored twice as Canada finished 3-0 in round-robin play with a 7-1 win over the Czech Republic Wednesday.
Jean-Luc Foudy had a goal and an assist in the victory, which saw his Windsor Spitfires teammate Will Cuylle dish out a pair of helpers.
Prince Albert Raiders blueliner Kaiden Guhle recorded his first point of the tournament in the third period as he got an assist on Foudy’s marker.
His teammate Ozzy Wiesblatt was held off the scoresheet.
Cole Perfetti (Saginaw Spirit), Connor McClennon (Winnipeg Ice) and Ridly Grieg (Brandon Wheat Kings) also scored for Canada.
Michal Gut, who will play for the Everett Silvertips this season, became the first player to score a goal against Canada at the tournament as he beat Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit) early in the third period.
Canada will now face Sweden in a semifinal contest that will get underway at 11 a.m. Friday and will air nationally on TSN.
Sweden advanced to the medal round with a 5-4 shootout win over the United States on Wednesday morning to finish second in Group B.
Friday’s other semifinal contest will see Russia take on Finland.
Finland clinched second in Group A with a 6-0 shutout of Switzerland, while Russia concluded a perfect round-robin with a 2-1 overtime win over Slovakia.
The Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal game will be held Saturday morning at 9 a.m.
