Bedard shines as Canada demolishes Germany to bounce back at world juniors

Canada wanted a response after a depressing 48 hours.

Connor Bedard — as he is completed so usually in his younger profession — delivered with deadly precision.

The 17-year-old phenom had a hat trick and 4 assists Wednesday as the host county acquired back on monitor at the world junior hockey championship with an emphatic 11-2 victory over Germany.

“Unbelievable recreation,” Canadian captain Shane Wright mentioned. “Pretty loopy what he is doing on the market. Special night time.”

Bedard’s seven-point efficiency tied a single-game Canadian document on an evening the favourites at the lads’s under-20 showcase wanted a response following Monday’s embarrassing 5-2 loss to Czechia.

“It’s cool,” the presumptive No. 1 decide at the 2023 NHL draft mentioned of becoming a member of Dave Andreychuk (1983), Brenden Morrow (1999), Mike Cammalleri (2002) and Gabriel Bourque (2010) on Canada’s seven-point listing. “But that is not an enormous deal for me. It’s good to get the win.

“I acquired a few fairly fortunate ones. Just a type of nights.”

WATCH l Bedard’s 3 targets, 4 assists lead Canada to rout of Germany:

Bedard now has 12 targets all-time at the world juniors, two back of Jordan Eberle’s nationwide document.

“I’ll textual content him saying he is acquired a man on his heels,” Wright mentioned of Eberle, his teammate with the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. “Don’t assume we’ll be targeted on that so much, but it surely’s gonna be particular if he hits these alongside the best way.”

“He was on hearth … shot was unreal,” Canadian head coach Dennis Williams added of Bedard. “His creativity and his poise … an important night time.

Dylan Guenther additionally had a hat trick — all off Bedard passes — whereas Logan Stankoven added a purpose and two assists.

Wright, Brandt Clarke and Joshua Roy, with a purpose and an help every, and Zack Ostapchuk additionally scored.

Olen Zellweger chipped in with three assists as Williams shook up three of his ahead traces — together with splitting up Bedard and Wright — after a disconnected and disjointed effort in opposition to the Czechs.

“We got here far more decided,” mentioned the coach. “Played tighter as a bunch.”

Thomas Milic made 14 saves in his first world junior begin for Canada. Roman Kechter and Philip Sinn replied for Germany, which acquired 30 stops from Simon Wolf earlier than he was changed by Rihards Babulis for the third interval in a mercy pull. Babulis completed with 11 saves.

“We have been fairly hungry,” Bedard mentioned. “That was an enormous manner to come back.”

Austria up subsequent

Canada, which improved to 16-0 all-time in opposition to the Germans, will now rapidly pivot to face Austria — outscored 20-0 by means of its two event video games — Thursday back at Scotiabank Centre.

Coming off a 1-0 defeat Tuesday to Sweden, Germany is off Thursday earlier than a Friday assembly with Austria.

A talent-rich group loaded with 9 first-round NHL draft picks, plus Bedard and fellow high-end prospect Adam Fantilli, Canada was surprised by the Czechs in an uninspired curtain-raiser that left the powerhouse nation looking for solutions.

That included gamers questioning their very own readiness and preparation, whereas Fantilli and Bedard every tried and failed “The Michigan” lacrosse-style transfer early — sequences considered afterwards as symptomatic of the Canadians’ unfastened strategy in opposition to an underdog opponent.

There can be no repeat.

“We did not change our recreation primarily based on what the rating was,” Guenther mentioned. “I like that … that was superior.”

The Arizona Coyotes ahead opened issues on an influence play within the first interval off a Bedard feed earlier than when Ketcher snapped a shot by means of Milic.

Wright was credited together with his second purpose of the event on one other man benefit when a German defender swept the puck into his personal internet.

Bedard, who had 4 targets in an 11-2 victory over Austria one yr in the past to the day earlier than that event was shelved by COVID-19, made it 3-1 when he took a stretch move and ripped a shot previous Wolf, and acquired one other early within the second on a goaltending miscue.

Wright mentioned Bedard might most likely put up a pair factors an evening within the NHL proper now.

“Incredible,” mentioned the No. 4 decide at the 2022 draft. “Haven’t seen many particular person performances like that. Pretty particular.”

Added Guenther: “He’s gonna be an impression participant there, I assume, straight away.”

Bedard roofed his hat trick purpose on one other energy play by means of a display earlier than Rayan Bettahar was assessed a match penalty and ejected for an unlawful examine to the pinnacle on Fantilli.

That’s when the floodgates actually opened.

Guenther scored his second on a slick Bedard feed to make it 6-1 and Clarke blasted a one-timer off a German defender.

Bedard then arrange Guenther for his third on the identical man benefit and Stankoven added one other late within the interval for a 9-1 lead by means of 40 minutes.

Sinn acquired a late comfort purpose on a German energy play to shut out an evening that noticed Canada recalibrate after an uncomfortable two days.

“That’s how we play hockey,” Wright mentioned. “All three durations — all 60 minutes — that was Team Canada hockey. We have been anticipating a bounce-back recreation and that is precisely we acquired.

“Really happy with our effort.”