Canada secured a spot in the top four in Pool A with an 10-0 victory over Switzerland on Tuesday night at Rexall Place in Edmonton.
And while it wasn’t the most commanding win of the tournament for Team Canada -- who include Millar as a member of Hockey Canada’s management team -- it was just a matter of getting things done against a surprisingly game opponent in the early going.
Philip Tomasino opened scoring for Canada only 1:30 into the game, putting a shot home seconds after a timely line change. That would stand as the lone goal of the opening frame despite outshooting the Swiss 14-3 in the period.
Across the body and past the blocker! @HC_WJC is early on the board! @philtomasino26 @PredsNHL #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/oFnmTCw1q8
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 29, 2020
The second period was all Canada.
Dylan Cozens made it 2-0 only 1:40 into the frame, chipping in a rebound during a goalmouth scramble off a point shot from Cole Perfetti.
🚨🇨🇦 @Dylan_Cozens is on 🔥!
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 30, 2020
Deflected from @ColePerfetti91 and chipped in it's 2-0 for @HC_WJC over @SwissIceHockey #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/1j7pi4xdSU
Less than seven minutes later, Jakob Pelletier made it 3-0, pouncing on a rebound off a shot from the slot from Saskatoon’s own Connor Zary, and the rout was on.
🚨🇨🇦 What a goal! @jak_pelletier turns it up and puts @HC_WJC up 3-0 over @SwissIceHockey #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/AoBzaKqCrc
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 30, 2020
Ryan Suzuki and Connor McMichael tacked on two more goals before the period was out, and Canada headed into the dressing room for the second intermission with a 5-0 lead, outshooting Switzerland 37-7 in the first two periods alone.
Quinton Byfield made it 6-0 Canada 5:16 into the third with his first goal of the tournament and fourth point of the game, and then extended Canada’s lead to seven just over two minutes later. All told, he’d finish the contest with six points -- two goals and four assists.
Only 1:02 after Byfield’s second, it was Perfetti’s turn to hit goal ledger, with his marker extending Canada’s lead to 8-0.
Prince Albert Raiders standout Kaiden Guhle made it 9-0 with 6:30 to play, Pelletier put Canada into double digits for the second time in the tournament with 4:25 remaining.
All told, Canada would fire 52 shots at Switzerland’s Noah Patenaude, while Devon Levi turned aside 15 shots to earn the shutout.
Canada closes out the round robin against Finland on New Year’s Eve, while Switzerland will take on Germany with a spot in the quarter-final on the line.
