Bedard helps Canada rout Germany at world juniors

After a disappointing start at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Team Canada bounced back in a big way.

Canada took down Germany 11-2 in its second game of the tournament.

The team got a little help from Regina Pats’ Connor Bedard, who netted a hat-trick and seven points in the victory — tying for the most points in a game by a Canadian.

Canada opened the game with a goal from Dylan Guenther, his first of the tournament, on the power play.

Some worries may have surfaced for Canadian fans, as Germany tied it up shortly after with a goal by Roman Kechter, but the floodgates soon opened for the Red and White as they took complete control of the game.

The first period ended with two goals from Canada captain Shane Wright — on the power play —  and Bedard, giving Canada a two-goal lead.

Bedard and Team Canada opened the second with a flurry of goals, including two more from the Pats centre, giving him the hat trick.

With Canada up 5-1, Germany made its most costly mistake as Rayan Bettahar was called for an illegal check to the head. He was given a match penalty and ejected from the game.

Canada had a similar error in its first game, when Zach Dean was called for an illegal hit and Czechia scored two goals during the five-minute power play, giving them all of the momentum and eventually the game.

After Germany’s penalty, Canada went on to score four power-play goals. Two of those came from Brandt Clarke and Logan Stankoven, and two from Guenther for the second hat trick of the night.

Early in the third, Canada reached double digits on the scoreboard after Zack Ostapchuk scored, making it a nine-goal lead. Then, halfway through the period, Joshua Roy scored Canada’s final goal of the night to make it 11-1.

It was too much of a hill to climb for Germany, even though Philip Sinn scored on the power play late in the third.

Bedard was named the player of the game for Canada.

Next up for Canada will be a date with Austria on Thursday (5:30 p.m. puck drop) before a New Year’s Eve date with Sweden.

You can hear all of Canada’s games live on 650 CKOM and 980 CJME.