The only drawback is Canada had to go through one of Millar’s own Warriors players to do it.
Canada battled to a 3-0 victory over Warriors forward Martin Lang and the Czech Republic in the quarter-final Saturday against in the tournament bubble at Roger’s Place in Edmonton.
Millar is working with Hockey Canada as part of the Under-20 program’s management group.
Dylan Cozens opened scoring at 8:22 of the first, finally capitalizing on a handful of early scoring chances by taking a breakaway pass from Connor McMichael and beating Czech goaltender Nick Malik five hole.
🚨🇨🇦 ICED! @Dylan_Cozens flies down the ice and puts @HC_WJC up 1-0! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/dZPFlfQ5i5
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 3, 2021
Canada then extended their lead to 2-0 just two minutes later, as Bowen Byram perfectly used a screen to sneak a shot under Malik’s blocker just as a penalty expired. Cozens and Peyton Krebs drew assists on the goal.
Canada carried the play the vast majority of the period, but a handful of bursts by the Czechs -- especially in the second half of the period as Canada started to scramble, giving up nine straight shots at one point -- would see them take a 12-8 lead in shots into the second frame.
Lang had eight shifts for 5:03 of ice time, and didn’t have a shot in the period. He did draw some conversation about the pronunciation of his last name on the TSN broadcast, though, with play-by-play man Gord Miller settling for ‘Lung’ in the end.
The second period was scoreless, even though Canada again carried the play much of the way and had several scoring chances. The Czech Republic was able to limit second opportunities, though, pouncing on rebounds and controlling the puck in their own zone even if they were unable to generate regular offence at the other end of the ice.
They did have a solid chance late in the period, though, as a turnover at the blueline sent the Czechs in on a partial breakaway, only for Peyton Krebs to catch up to the play and break up a pass to take away the scoring chance.
Canada would outshoot the Czechs 10-6 in the period, with the shot total all even at 18 each through two periods. Lang, meanwhile, saw another seven shifts and played 6:49, getting a single shot off on Canada goaltender Devon Levi.
Some action in front of the @HC_WJC net! @DevonLevi33 pulling out all the stops. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/PVPEfXj3Ym
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 3, 2021
Czech Republic took a risk by pulling Malik with five minutes to play and were able to generate plenty more offence with the extra skater, but Connor McMichael would score into the empty net with 17:11 remaining to put Canada ahead 3-0.
Lang finished with 24 shifts and 19:15 of ice time -- including 7:23 in the third -- recording his single shot and finishing minus-one.
The United States was to play Slovakia in the final quarter-final on Saturday night, and with a U.S. win, Canada will face Russia in the semifinal, with that game at 4:30 p.m. Moose Jaw time on Monday. A Slovakia upset would see Canada face Slovakia in that same contest.
