Connor Bedard

The projected top pick in the 2023 NHL Draft fired Canada's fifth shot of the game past Latvian goaltender Patriks Berzins at the 7:31 mark to give the hosts ...

Connor Bedard opened the scoring for Canada and Rainers Darzins replied for Latvia, as the teams are tied 1-1 after the first period of play at the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship. Connor Bedard opened the scoring for Canada and Rainers Darzins replied for Latvia, as the teams are tied 1-1 after the first period of play at the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship. Canada, Latvia tied 1-1 after first period at World Juniors

Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist and Canada opened its world junior hockey championship with a decisive 5-2 victory over Latvia on Wednesday.

… Cossa was playing on familiar ice, having helped the Edmonton Oil Kings to a WHL championship in June. … Canada’s goal song is “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The man advantage saw Cossa nearly send a puck into his own net while trying to clear and Johnson come within inches of scoring an own goal. Darzins chipped a shot up and over Cossa stick side to make it 1-1. Bedard set up the play with a no-look backwards pass to Zellweger at the blue line. Dufour gave the Canadians some breathing room with 5:16 to go in the third period. “We’ve been practising but nothing’s really game speed,” he said. “It was a pretty lucky bounce,” Greig said. “That was at the time where we were in their zone for a period of time five on five and we thought that was going to carry over into the power play and we got too comfortable and we thought it was going to be easy. Earlier in the period, Latvia cut the deficit to 4-2 on a power play after Greig was called for tripping. The Canadians broke out with a three-goal performance in the second but found themselves in trouble in the final frame due to a series of undisciplined penalties. And it was cool to kind of be going to the corner and seeing some fans.” The 17-year-old was quick to show his offensive prowess, opening the scoring in the first period and adding an assist on a second-period power-play goal.

Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist and Canada opened its world junior hockey championship with a decisive 5-2 victory over Latvia on Wednesday in ...

The man advantage saw Cossa nearly send a puck into his own net while trying to clear and Johnson come within inches of scoring an own goal. Darzins chipped a shot up and over Cossa stick side to make it 1-1. "And the tracker was right on me so I just tried to get it on net with one (hand)." Bedard set up the play with a no-look backwards pass to Zellweger at the blue line. And it was cool to kind of be going to the corner and seeing some fans." Dufour gave the Canadians some breathing room with 5:16 to go in the third period. "We've been practising but nothing's really game speed," he said. "That was at the time where we were in their zone for a period of time five on five and we thought that was going to carry over into the power play and we got too comfortable and we thought it was going to be easy. said head coach Dave Cameron. "I think it's always exciting no matter who gets it. Earlier in the period, Latvia cut the deficit to 4-2 on a power play after Greig was called for tripping. "I know a coach is never happy with the game, but considering the time of year and where we're at in this tournament, I think it was good."

Codie McLachlan. Getty Images.The thing about Connor Bedard is that he rules. This kid rules so ridiculously hard. He just turned 17 last month.

And he's playing with some of the best young prospects that Canada has to offer, and clearly stands out as being one of the best. And roughly halfway in to the first period of Team Canada's first game of the tournament, Connor Bedard proved why there should be 31 teams all trying to lose 82 games next season to get that 1st overall pick. Obviously we didn't get a full tournament in the winter, and the 2022 WJC would moved to right now.

Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist and Canada opened play in the postponed world junior hockey championship with a 5-2 victory over Latvia on Wednesday ...

Lukas Cormier and Olen Zellweger also scored, captain Mason McTavish had two assists and Sebastian Cossa made 24 saves. And it was cool to kind of be going to the corner and seeing some fans.'' "It always feels good to score, especially that first one of the tournament,'' said the 17-year-old Bedard, the early favorite to go first overall in the 2023 NHL draft.