(Hockey Canada/Twitter)

By Steve Seto/CKOM

Canada drops opener to Czechia at world juniors

Dec 27, 2022 | 11:54 AM

It was not the start Team Canada wanted at all.

The Canadian team fell to Czechia 5-2 in its IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships opener in Halifax on Monday night.

The game started off on the right foot after Canada’s captain Shane Wright opened the scoring midway through the first period during a power play, giving Canada an early lead, but Czechia responded with two goals by David Spacek and David Moravec to close out the first period.

That’s when the game got away from Team Canada.

Czechia built up a two-goal lead after Stanislav Svozil found the back of the net to begin the second period.

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Canada’s Connor Bedard got Czechia’s lead back down to a single goal shortly after, but then Zach Dean was given a match penalty for a hit to the head, handing Czechia a five-minute power play.

Jaroslav Chmelar and Matous Mensik scored during the extended advantage, and Czechia didn’t look back as they closed out the game against the heavily favoured Canadians 5-2.

Canada will have to rebound quickly, as the team is back on the ice Wednesday night to take on Germany. Puck drop is 5:30 p.m.