Alexis Lafreniere, expected to be the No. 1 pick of the 2020 NHL Draft, scored two goals for Canada in its semifinal win against Finland.
Joel Hofer, a St. Louis Blues prospect, made 31 saves for Canada, which will play Russia in the championship game Sunday (1 p.m. ET; NHLN). Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals), Jamie Drysdale (2020 Draft eligible) and Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars) scored for Canada.
Justus Annunen (Colorado Avalanche) made 34 saves for Finland, the 2019 WJC champion. Finland will play Sweden in the third-place game Sunday (9 a.m. ET; NHLN).
McMichael opened the scoring 1:48 into the first period, and Lafreniere made it 2-0 when he lifted a backhander off the rush over Annunen at 3:05.
Drysdale made it 3-0 at 3:55 and Dellandrea scored at 14:49 to make it 4-0. Lafreniere made it 5-0 with a power-play goal at 17:54 of the second period.
Canada forward Barrett Hayton (Arizona Coyotes), who had two assists, did not return after sustaining an apparent left shoulder injury early in the third period when he got tangled with Finland defenseman Lassi Thomson (Ottawa Senators) and fell into the boards. Canada coach Dale Hunter said Hayton is questionable for the championship game.
Hunter said defenseman Bowen Byram (Vancouver Canucks), who missed the game because of an illness, is expected to play against Russia.
Russia 5, Sweden 4 (OT)
Ivan Morozov, a Vegas Golden Knights prospect, scored his second goal of the game 3:24 into overtime for Russia in the semifinals.
Morozov cut wide through the Sweden zone during the 3-on-3 overtime, got around defensemen Rasmus Sandin (Toronto Maple Leafs) and beat goalie Hugo Alnefelt (Tampa Bay Lightning) under his arm.
Egor Sokolov, a C-rated prospect for the 2020 NHL Draft, scored two goals for Russia. Alexander Khovanov (Minnesota Wild) had a goal and an assist. Goalie Amir Miktakhov (2020 Draft eligible), who replaced Yaroslav Askarov (2020 draft eligible) 4:25 into the third period, stopped all five shots he faced.
Sandin had two goals and two assists for Sweden. Samuel Fagemo (Los Angeles Kings) and Nils Lundkvist each had a goal and an assist. Alnefelt made 39 saves.
What we learned
Sandin’s wrist is OK
Sweden defenseman Rasmus Sandin (Toronto Maple Leafs) missed time the previous two games after being slashed on the left wrist and told TSN that he’s playing through pain.
The wrist looked pretty good Saturday, when Sandin had two goals and two assists.
Both goals came on slap shots from the point. He gave Sweden a 1-0 lead 16 seconds into the first period after David Gustafsson won a face-off on the left side of the Russia zone.
Sandin also had two assists, and with nine points (two goals, seven assists) leads all defensemen at the WJC in scoring.
Sokolov not worried about NHL Draft
Egor Sokolov said winning, not the 2020 NHL Draft, is at the front of his mind right now. However, the 19-year-old forward is doing a nice job building a resume for himself for when the NHL heads to Bell Centre in Montreal for the annual selection process June 26-27.
Sokolov scored two goals Saturday, including the game-tying goal at 8:35 of the third period when he found space over the shoulder of Sweden goalie Hugo Alnefelt (Tampa Bay Lightning) to finish a give-and-go with Alexander Khovanov (Minnesota Wild).
“I just got the puck, and I knew I have a good shot and I just shot it upstairs and it went in,” Morozov said. “I just couldn’t even believe that it went like that. … Just an amazing feeling.”
Sokolov has three goals in six WJC games, and in his second season with Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League leads the team with 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists) in 30 games.
He received a C rating from NHL Central Scouting in its preliminary players to watch list, meaning he’s expected to be drafted between the fourth and sixth rounds.
Hofer growing into No. 1 goalie role
When Canada started building its WJC roster at the World Junior Summer Showcase in late July, Joel Hofer (St. Louis Blues) was building his game at home in Winnipeg.
Canada had five goalies at the Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan. But it will be Hofer, who wasn’t really on the radar at that time, in goal at Ostravar Arena in Ostrava against Russia in the championship game.
“It’s unbelievable,” Hofer said. “I wasn’t invited to the showcase. Obviously it was a goal of mine, just like a lot of other guys.”
Hofer built his case through strong play this season with Portland of the Western Hockey League, where he has 20 wins, a 1.81 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in 27 games. Since relieving Nicolas Daws (2020 Draft eligible) during the second period of Canada’s 6-0 loss to Russia on Dec. 28, Hofer has allowed six goals on 110 shots (.945 save percentage) in five games.
“He’s a really composed guy,” said defenseman Jamie Drysdale, Hofer’s roommate during the tournament. “I think he’s a great guy, very calm. He does his thing in net and we’re very grateful for that how he’s been playing.”
Drysdale took advantage of ice time for Canada
Drysdale is one of the top defensemen available for the 2020 NHL Draft, but he was Canada’s seventh defenseman through the first five games of the World Juniors. But with Bowen Byram (Colorado Avalanche) out against Finland because of an illness, Drysdale played 20:28, by far the most ice time he’s gotten during the WJC, and he scored his first goal.
“I think just being able to get on the board, as well as our team getting off to such a good start, I think was really exciting for us,” Drysdale said.
The 17-year-old’s previous high was 15:21 in the quarterfinals against Slovakia. He started the tournament playing 8:27 against the United States.
“I think obviously from game one to now I think the confidence level has gone up,” Drysdale said. “With this team, it’s just a really comfortable environment and very supportive. They encourage you to do your thing out there and that’s just what I tried to do.”
Canada coach Dale Hunter said he’s been happy all along with Drysdale.
“He’s got a great brain, his feet are good,” Hunter said. “He plays a smart game. He doesn’t overextend himself. He’s one of those players that’s a natural.”
Drysdale received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting in its preliminary players to watch list for the 2020 draft. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed shot has 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in 29 games with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League.
SINGAPORE (AP) — Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen gave only brief answers at a Saturday news conference in an apparent protest against series governing body the FIA for punishing him for swearing.
Verstappen appeared at the FIA’s news conference for the top three in Singapore Grand Prix qualifying — he finished second — but was reluctant to speak.
On Friday, Verstappen was ordered to “accomplish some work of public interest” at the FIA’s discretion for using an expletive to describe his car in another FIA news conference the day before.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has signaled he wants to cut down on swearing in F1, setting up the governing body’s latest disagreement with drivers.
After a brief statement that he was happy with second place in qualifying and thanked his Red Bull team, Verstappen kept his answers to a minimum and said he risked being fined if he said more.
What had the team changed on his car? “A lot.” Was he confident ahead of Sunday’s race? “Maybe.” What about starting alongside title rival Lando Norris on the grid? “I will find out tomorrow.”
As the event’s host struggled to get a response to his questions, the Dutch driver clarified: “This is not towards you, don’t worry. I don’t want to upset you.”
Verstappen’s silence was confined to the FIA news conference. He earlier answered questions on TV from the pit lane and invited reporters to question him outside of the news conference room.
Asked how long he’d refuse to give answers in FIA events, he said: “I’m answering, just not a lot. Problem with my voice.”
Verstappen was supported by Norris and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who has voiced his own concerns over Ben Sulayem’s stance.
After joking that Verstappen deserved his punishment for “foul language”, Norris said: “It’s pretty unfair. I don’t agree with any of it.”
Hamilton said: “It’s a bit of a joke, to be honest. This is the pinnacle of the sport. Mistakes are made.” Hamilton also seemed to suggest Verstappen should avoid the work mandated by the earlier ruling. “I certainly wouldn’t be doing it. And I hope Max doesn’t do it.”
Hamilton, F1’s only Black driver, earlier objected to Ben Sulayem’s statement that F1 should not resemble “rap music,” which the FIA president made while explaining his objections to swearing in an interview with the motorsport.com website this week. Hamilton said Ben Sulayem’s language was “stereotypical” and had a “racial element.”
PENTICTON, B.C. – Kiefer Sherwood spent several nights last spring chasing Quinn Hughes around the ice and generally pestering the Vancouver Canucks.
Now the former Nashville Predators winger is wearing a Canucks jersey.
After signing with Vancouver in free agency, Sherwood is at training camp in Penticton, B.C., lining up against the players he frustrated in the first round of the playoffs last season.
His former foes have welcomed him welcomed with open arms.
“I try to be hard to play against and try to hate the other team and play with that hate and that fire. But at the end of the day, it’s a business and it’s a game of respect,” Sherwood said. “You’re not going after guys if you don’t respect them, right? So now that we’re teammates, it’s just respect.”
The 29-year-old Sherwood’s path to Vancouver wasn’t linear.
A six-foot, 194-pound forward from Columbus, Ohio, he went undrafted before signing with the Anaheim Ducks as a free agent in March 2018, and played 50 games for the team during the 2018-19 campaign.
But Sherwood struggled to stick in the NHL, bouncing back and forth between the minors during stints with Anaheim, Nashville and the Colorado Avalanche.
Eventually, he realized that to cement his spot, he needed to find what made him special — and he landed on speed.
“It’s definitely something that I had to learn and kind of ingrain in myself and train. I think the saying is adapt or die,” Sherwood said. “At the end of the day, you can light up the minors all you want, but you want to be here in this league.”
To hone his speed, Sherwood added more dynamic movement to his training regime, looking to create a new level of explosiveness in his skating.
That explosiveness is the key to winning puck battles, he said.
“I want to hunt. I want to get in on the forecheck, I want to create time and space for my linemates,” he said. “And ultimately, it’s a possession game too. So I want the puck on our tape and to get it to guys that can make plays. We value the puck, we value possession, we value plays. And if we’re dumping it in or forechecking, I want to get it back.”
When he can’t get the puck back, Sherwood wants to wear down the other team.
“It’s kind of the game within the game,” he said. “And it’s that fire that I’m really focused on bringing every night.”
Last season marked a career-best campaign for Sherwood, who put up 10 goals and 17 assists in 68 regular-season appearances for Nashville.
He also appeared in all six of the Predators post-season games and contributed a goal before the team was eliminated by the Canucks.
“I’ve had to look inward a little bit and try to figure out what it’s going to take, and dig deep,” Sherwood said of his career. “And then from there, just keep refining and growing the identity that I need to play with night in and night out.”
His speed and tenacity hasn’t gone unnoticed at his first Canucks training camp.
“Even the forecheck drills, always he’s moving his feet. His effort’s high,” said head coach Rick Tocchet.
“I thought some of the one-on-one drills, he made some nice moves with the puck. That’s the stuff I want to see. But he’s high-energy, big-motor guy. Guys like that, they’re all over the forecheck.”
Playing against Sherwood in last spring’s playoffs, Canucks captain Hughes learned that Sherwood’s playing style means opponents need to always be aware of when the winger’s on the ice.
“He’s a really good player.” Hughes said. “I think he’s got more game than people give him credit for. I’m not the coach, but I think he can play anywhere in the lineup. And I think he’s just a great addition.”
Tocchet also believes Sherwood could have more offensive upside to his game, noting that the Canucks coaching staff has identified some places they want the new addition to work on his game.
“There’s sometimes when he has (the puck), he can slow it down a bit to make a play,” the coach said. “But … I’d rather him have the motor going, and we’ll worry about the other stuff. And he’s a guy you can bounce around on different lines too. So it’s a luxury.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2024.
CALGARY – Trevor Harris had a rushing touchdown and threw a TD pass to Kian Schaffer-Baker to lead the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 37-29 win over the Calgary Stampeders on Friday night.
Backup quarterback Shea Patterson ran for a pair of touchdowns for the Roughriders (6-7-1), who ended a seven-game winless streak.
Brett Lauther kicked three field goals for Saskatchewan, while newly acquired running back Ryquell Armstead had an impressive debut with 207 yards rushing on 25 carries.
Clark Barnes and Jalen Philpot caught touchdown passes from quarterback Jake Maier for the Stampeders (4-9-1), who are 0-5-1 in their past six games.
Tommy Stevens and Dedrick Mills had rushing touchdowns for Calgary, while Rene Paredes kicked a field goal.
The Stamps had a strong start as Stevens ran for a 69-yard touchdown at 1:38 of the first quarter. Paredes missed the convert, so Calgary had to settle for an early 6-0 lead.
Harris then led the Riders on an eight-play, 63-yard drive that Patterson completed by scrambling across the goal line for a one-yard touchdown.
Following a 33-yard field goal by Lauther at 10:15, Paredes answered with a 41-yarder with just 33 seconds left in the first quarter.
While Maier and the Calgary offence struggled in the second quarter, the same couldn’t be said for Harris and his Saskatchewan squad.
After Harris led the Riders down to Calgary’s two-yard line, Patterson ran for his second score of the game at 12:58 to cap an impressive eight-play, 99-yard drive.
Harris then punctuated a seven-play, 92-yard drive by running for a one-yard score with just one second left in the first half to give the Riders a 24-9 lead.
Barnes caught an eight-yard TD pass from Maier at 4:15 of the third quarter to pull the Stamps back within eight points.
Shaffer-Baker made an acrobatic catch just shy of the goal line and remained on his feet despite taking a pair of hits from Calgary’s Branden Dozier and Kobe Williams. He then ran into the end zone for a 25-yard score at 10:01 of the third.
Philpot hauled in an eight-yard TD catch at 1:01 of the fourth quarter before Louther kicked a 32-yard field goal at 3:44 to put the Riders up 34-23.
After Mills ran for a two-yard TD at 8:39 of the final quarter, the Stamps weren’t able to score a two-point convert as Maier was sacked by Saskatchewan’s C.J. Reavis.
It looked as though the Stamps were going to get the ball back after the Riders went two-and-out, but Tyler Richardson took a costly penalty for contacting punter Adam Korsak.
The Riders subsequently took a 37-29 lead after Lauther kicked a 40-yard field goal with 1:43 left on the clock.
Calgary had one more chance to extend the game, but former Stampeder Jameer Thurman picked off an errant pass by Maier to secure the victory for Saskatchewan.
UP NEXT
Roughriders: Host the Ottawa Redblacks (8-4-1) on Sept. 28.
Stampeders: Visit the B.C. Lions (7-7) on Oct. 4.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 20, 2024.
