Canada Hangs on vs Team Slovakia

Canada hangs on vs Team Slovakia in the 2021 World Juniors.

Canada took a 3-1 victory over Slovakia in its second game of the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championships to improve to 2-0 in group play.

This game was unlike the 16-2 romping of Team Germany. Against Slovakia, Team Canada appeared to be going through the motions in a game that was both dull and sloppy at times.

Philip Tomasino had a goal and an assist, while Jordan Spence and Jack Quinn added markers for the win for Team Canada. Marin Romiak scored the loan Slovakia goal with just 1:24 left in the game.

It was a game that saw Braden Schneider sitting a one-game suspension after his hit to Jan-Luca Schumacher in Canada’s opener against Team Germany. His replacement was Australia-born Jordan Spence who scored his very first goal on his very first shift on the game.

The Slovaks fought hard in the game to keep the game close, with their goaltender Samuel Hlavaj standing tall to fend off the Canadian squad. With the game still 1-0, Newfoundland’s Dawson Mercer drew a penalty, giving the Slovaks a powerplay late in the game. That’s when Team Canada’s Philip Tomasino capitalized on a mistake, scoring a beauty of a goal to make it 2-0 Canada.

Down two goals, the Slovaks pulled their goalie and with the extra attacker on the ice and with just 1:24 left in the period, Team Slovakia scored to make it 2-1 with a lot of time left on the clock. However, Jack Quinn scored and empty net goal to secure a 3-1 lead for Team Canada.

Newfoundland’s Dawson Mercer picked up an assist on the evening. Fellow Newfoundland Alex Newhook was held pointless.