ERZURUM, Turkey (CIS) Carleton University forward Brandon MacLean of Burlington, Ont., recorded a hat trick to lead the Canadian mens hockey team to a 9-0 domination of Slovenia in its first preliminary outing of the Winter Universiade tournament, Thursday morning, at Cemal Gursel Arena.
The red-and-white squad comprised of all-stars from the Ontario University Athletics conference hopes to capture the fourth FISU title in Canadian mens hockey history after claiming silver at the last World University Games two years ago in Harbin, China. Canada was last crowned in 2007 in Turin, Italy, when the team was made up of standouts from Atlantic University Sport.
In other mens hockey action on the first day of the Erzurum Games, the Czech Republic crushed host Turkey 16-0 while defending champion Russia edged Japan 3-2.
Canadian captain Jordan Smith and head coach Clarke Singer were both please with the teams debut.
It was nice to get out there and play the first game. Its been a long time coming, said Smith, a Lakehead University defenceman who Wednesday was named Canadas flag-bearer for the opening ceremonies. Everybody was excited. Wed walk around the locker room and see our Team Canada jerseys. It definitely brought chills to you.
We have to be happy with the result. We stuck to the game plan and just did what we had to do, and in the end it showed on the scoreboard.
For the first game for this group of guys together, I thought they had a great game. We pushed from start to finish and that was our goal. There are obviously a few things well want to fix here and there but overall, we have to be impressed with our performance, added Singer, the long-time Western Ontario head coach.
The line of MacLean, Wilfrid Lauriers Jean-Michel Rizk and Western Ontarios Kevin Baker racked up four goals and eight points in the contest.
MacLean tallied Canadas fifth, sixth and ninth markers and added an assist. Rizk of Durham, Que., netted the teams fourth goal and had one helper, while Baker of Georgetown, Ont., finished with a pair assists.
Lakehead forward Matt Caria of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., also had a two-point effort scoring in the first period to make it 2-0 and late in the third to give Canada an eight-goal advantage.
Canada led 3-0 after the opening stanza on goals by Westerns Keaton Turkiewicz of Brantford, Ont., Caria and Waterloos Chris Ray of Kelowna, B.C.
Rizk and MacLean made it 5-0 after 40 minutes of play, and Waterloo rearguard Kyle Sonnenburg of Waterloo, Ont., chipped in along with Caria and MacLean, twice, in the final frame.
The Canadians, who went 2-for-8 on the power play, outshot their rivals 47-22 including a 14-7 edge in the first, 15-8 in the second and 18-7 in the third.
Westerns Anthony Grieco of Brampton, Ont., started in net for the winners and made 15 saves over 40 minutes. Windsors Jim Watt of Edmonton took over in the third and stopped seven shots.
Both our goalies played really well and came up with some big saves when we needed them to, said Singer. It wasnt easy for Jim, its always tough going in cold like that but we wanted both guys to get some work today, and it worked out well.
Jure Verlic finished with 38 saves in the losing cause for Slovenia.
Canadas second game is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET) against Belarus (0-0).
Wed like to get off to a quick start again, said Smith. We just want to play Team Canada hockey. We cant worry about the style other teams are playing. If we play the way we can, I think well be all right.
SCORING SUMMARY
Canada 9, Slovenia 0
FIRST PERIOD
SCORING:
1. CAN Keaton Turkiewicz (1) (Matthieu Methot), 8:53
2. CAN Matt Caria (1) (unassisted), 14:38 PP
3. CAN Chris Ray (1) (Yashar Farmanara), 15:32
PENALTIES:
Evan Vossen (CAN) high sticking, 0:12;
Damir Ejup (SLO) roughing, 2:05;
Tim Priamo (CAN) delay of game, 9:45;
Anze Ahacic (SLO) holding, 14:38;
Jure Miljus (SLO) tripping, 16:08.
SECOND PERIOD
SCORING:
4. CAN Jean-Michel Rizk (1) (Brandon Maclean, Kevin Baker), 1:07
5. CAN Brandon MacLean (1) (Kevin Baker, Jean-Michel Rizk), 5:45
PENALTIES:
Team (CAN) too many men, 1:41;
Ziga Kuzman (SLO) slashing, 6:27;
Maxime Langelier-Parent (CAN) interference, 11:27;
Klemen Sodrznik (SLO) interference, 12:50;
Maxime Langelier-Parent (CAN) slashing, 19:52;
Jakob Zupnac (SLO) checking to the head, 19:52;
Jakob Zupnac (SLO) 10-minute misconduct, 19:52.
THIRD PERIOD
SCORING:
6. CAN Brandon MacLean (2) (unassisted), 1:04
7. CAN Kyle Sonnenburg (1) (unassisted), 2:35 PP
8. CAN Matt Caria (2) (unassisted), 13:05
9. CAN Brandon MacLean (3) (Kevin Baker), 15:17
PENALTIES:
Nik Ulaga (SLO) hooking,1:26;
Ken Ograjensek (SLO) game misconduct, 13:05;
Ziga Kuzman (SLO) slashing, 16:53;
Grega Pihler (SLO) hooking, 19:59.
GOALS (by period)
CAN: 3-2-4:9
SLO: 0-0-0:0
SHOTS ON GOAL (by period)
CAN: 14-15-18: 47
SLO: 7-8-7:22
POWER PLAY:
CAN: 2-8
SLO: 0-4
GOALTENDERS
CAN Anthony Grieco (W, 1-0, 15 shots, 15 saves, 0 GA, 40:00)
CAN Jim Watt (0-0, 7 shots, 7 saves, 0 GA, 20:00)
SLO Jure Verlic (L, 0-1, 47 shots, 38 saves, 9 GA, 60:00)