Connor Bedard tied Eric Lindros’ Canadian record for most career points at the world junior hockey championship when he registered his fourth assist of the night against Sweden on Saturday to give him 31 points overall.
The assist came on Kevin Korchinski’s goal to give Canada a 5-1 lead late in the third period.
The 17-year-old phenom has put up the total in just 13 career games. Lindros did it in 21 games.
Bedard also tied the record for most points by a Canadian in a single tournament (18) and most assists in a single tournament (12)
Bedard had seven and six points, respectively in his last two outings.
Portugal captain has joined the Riyadh-based side on a deal until June 2025.
Saudi Arabian football club Al Nassr has announced the signing of Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, in a landmark move for football in the Middle East.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner became a free agent last month when his contract with English side Manchester United was terminated.
Who are Al Nassr?
Formed in 1955, it is a club based in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It plays in the country’s top division, the Saudi Professional League (SPL), which has 18 teams.
Al Nassr players wear yellow and blue while their home ground, Mrsool Park, has a capacity of 25,000.
Al Nassr have won a total of nine league titles, with the last being in the 2018-19 season. They are the second-most successful team in the league, behind Riyadh-based Al Hilal, who have won 18.
Al Nassr are currently sitting second in the league after 10 games, two points behind leaders Al Shabab.
Last season, the team finished third, six points behind champions Al Hilal.
Al Nassr have also won the country’s knockout championship, the King’s Cup, six times. Their most recent win was in 1990.
Al Nassr’s best performance in the AFC Champions League, Asia’s premier club competition, came in 1995 when they finished runners-up behind Japan’s Ilhwa Chunma.
Saudi teams have won the AFC Champions League six times, with Al Hilal claiming a record four titles and Al Ittihad winning the continental competition twice.
The team
Al Nassr said Ronaldo, 37, will join on a deal until June 2025 but did not disclose any financial details.
The Portuguese superstar will now link up with Cameroon’s World Cup hero Vincent Aboubakar, who came from the bench to change the game against Serbia and scored the winner to stun Brazil in their last group game in Qatar.
Other notable foreign players in the Al Nassr squad include Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, who previously played for Arsenal and Napoli, as well as former Brazil international and midfielder Luiz Gustavo.
SPL clubs can register eight foreign players but only seven can be named in a matchday squad.
The league’s all-time top scorer, Majed Abdullah, spent his entire club career between 1977 and 1998 at Al Nassr. The former Saudi Arabia striker scored 189 goals and averaged nearly a goal a game.
Connor Bedard scored two goals in Canada's lopsided 11-0 win over Austria Thursday night in Halifax, matching Jordan Eberle's Canadian record for goals at the World Junior Championship with 14.
The projected No. 1 overall pick in next summer's NHL Draft led the offensive charge with six total points as Canada reached the double-digit goal mark for the second straight night. He tied the record on a third-period goal off an assist from Logan Stankoven.
“Every time he has the puck on his stick, something’s coming from it," Canada head coach Dennis Williams said of Bedard after the game.
"Their creativity and skillset, you’re seeing some chemistry between himself, [Stankoven] and [Joshua] Roy there. So, it’s nice to see and obviously they’re building confidence throughout these games.”
Bedard heaped heavy praise on his linemate for setting him up to match the record.
“I wasn’t thinking about it too much, but I think some of the guys kind of mentioned it there in the third. Obviously a good play by [Logan Stankoven] there in the third, I think anyone could have put that one in. He made it pretty easy to get it," the 17-year-old Regina Pats star said.
Bedard had a hat trick and four assists in Canada's 11-2 victory over Germany Wednesday night.
He scored four goals at the original 2022 World Junior Championship before it was postponed and recorded another four at this past summer’s rescheduled tournament, giving him eight. He got his ninth in Canada’s 5-2 loss to Czechia to open the 2023 tournament before reaching 14 in Canada’s two latest games.
“We’re really happy for him. That’s such an accomplishment, it’s so cool. He’s been playing great this tournament. I don’t think anybody in the room is feeling anything but joy for him now,” said Adam Fantilli of his teammate.
Bedard has 27 points in his World Juniors career, four back of Eric Lindros' Canadian record of 31 from 1990 to 1992.
While the Canadians flexed their muscles in every aspect of Thursday's round-robin matchup, it did take them some time to get going. Williams' squad managed no shots on net through the opening 12 minutes, but Dylan Guenther got the tournament hosts on the board with a power-play goal off a nifty between-the-legs feed from Brennan Othmann. Just under two minutes later, Zach Dean fired a shot from the high slot that got through Austria netminder Benedikt Oschgan to double Canada’s lead.
Shane Wright then scored Canada's third goal to push their lead to 3-0 after the first 20 minutes.
Canada picked up right where they left off in the second as Joshua Roy tucked one home to make it a four-goal lead. Less than a minute later, Bedard beat Oschgan with a picture-perfect wrist shot from an odd angle for his first of the night and maybe his best of the tournament thus far.
Chicago Blackhawks prospect and defenceman Nolan Allen got his first goal of the tournament soon after and Logan Stankoven added another as Canada continued to build on the lead and finished the second frame up 7-0.
Fantilli scored his first of the tournament while Quebec Ramparts centre Nathan Gaucher, Anaheim Ducks prospect Tyson Hinds and Bedard all added goals in the final frame as Canada padded their lead.
Fantilli, also expected to be a high pick in next summer's draft, said he was pleased to get one on the board.
“I was just happy to get that first one. The first power play has been buzzing so much that we didn’t really get a chance to get out there but we got out there and I’m glad we capitalized. Try to keep it rolling into Sweden," the University of Michigan product said.
Ben Gaudreau got the start in net for Canada, his first action since being yanked and replaced by Thomas Milic in Canada’s first game of the tournament. He stopped all 12 shots he faced Thursday.
Canada has nine first-round picks and three NHL players on their roster while Austria entered Thursday’s matchup having lost both its games by a combined 20 goals.
The Canadians sit third in Group A with six points, trailing Sweden (eight) and Czechia (seven). Canada dropped their opening-game of the tournament to the Czechs on Boxing Day, the first time they’ve lost their opener with the tournament on home soil.
They rebounded in a big way on Wednesday, hammering Germany behind hat tricks from Bedard and Guenther. Bedard also had four assists, matching the Canadian single-game points record of seven also held by Dave Andreychuk (1983), Brenden Morrow (1999), Mike Cammalleri (2002) and Gabriel Bourque (2010).
Next up for Canada is Sweden on New Year’s Eve to conclude round-robin play. The top three teams in each group will advance to the medal round. Finland (seven points), USA (six) and Switzerland (four) are the current top three teams in Group B.
Canada has a day off Friday and Williams said his team is looking forward to getting a break after games on back-to-back days.
"The guys are looking forward to a break. We won't do much video tomorrow, just get a mental day away and try to get them ready for the next game."
Pele, the Brazilian king of soccer who won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures of the last century, died Thursday. He was 82.
The standard-bearer of "the beautiful game" had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The medical centre where he had been hospitalized for the last month said he died of multiple organ failure as a result of the cancer.
"Pele changed everything. He transformed football into art, entertainment," Neymar, a fellow Brazilian soccer star, said on Instagram. "Football and Brazil elevated their standing thanks to the King! He is gone, but his magic will endure. Pele is eternal!"
A funeral was planned for Monday and Tuesday, with his casket to be carried through the streets of Santos, the coastal city where his storied career began, before burial.
Widely regarded as one of soccer's greatest players, Pele spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game's most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team.
His grace, athleticism and mesmerizing moves transfixed players and fans. He orchestrated a fast, fluid style that revolutionized the sport — a samba-like flair that personified his country's elegance on the field.
WATCH l Remembering Pelé:
Brazilian soccer legend Pelé dead at 82
4 hours ago
Duration 2:27
Soccer superstar Pelé, who led Brazil to its first World Cup at the age of 17, has died at 82. After a superlative career that saw him win two more World Cups and revolutionize the men's game, Pelé became a politician, successful businessman and a UNESCO ambassador at the UN.
He carried Brazil to soccer's heights and became a global ambassador for his sport in a journey that began on the streets of Sao Paulo state, where he would kick a sock stuffed with newspapers or rags.
In the conversation about soccer's greatest players, only the late Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are mentioned alongside Pele.
Brazil fans hold a banner showing support for Pele during a World Cup Round of 16 match against South Korea at Stadium 974 in early December in Doha, Qatar. ( Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Different sources, counting different sets of games, list Pele's goal totals anywhere between 650 (league matches) and 1,281 (all senior matches, some against low-level competition.)
The player who would be dubbed "The King" was introduced to the world at 17 at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the youngest player ever at the tournament. He was carried off the field on teammates' shoulders after scoring two goals in Brazil's 5-2 victory over the host country in the final.
Injury limited him to just two games when Brazil retained the world title in 1962, but Pele was the emblem of his country's World Cup triumph of 1970 in Mexico. He scored in the final and set up Carlos Alberto with a nonchalant pass for the last goal in a 4-1 victory over Italy.
The image of Pele in a bright, yellow Brazil jersey, with the No. 10 stamped on the back, remains alive with soccer fans everywhere. As does his trademark goal celebration — a leap with a right fist thrust high above his head.
Pele's fame was such that in 1967 factions of a civil war in Nigeria agreed to a brief cease-fire so he could play an exhibition match in the country. He was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. When he visited Washington to help popularize the game in North America, it was the U.S. president who stuck out his hand first.
"My name is Ronald Reagan, I'm the president of the United States of America," the host said to his visitor. "But you don't need to introduce yourself because everyone knows who Pele is."
Pele does one of his patented bicycle kicks. (Associated Press)
Pele was Brazil's first modern Black national hero but rarely spoke about racism in a country where the rich and powerful tend to hail from the white minority.
Opposing fans taunted Pele with monkey chants at home and all over the world.
"He said that he would never play if he had to stop every time he heard those chants," said Angelica Basthi, one of Pele's biographers. "He is key for Black people's pride in Brazil, but never wanted to be a flagbearer."
Tonight we light the arch in the honour of Pelé.<br><br>His unique talent lit up the game of football, and inspired the world. <a href="https://t.co/6Ho2Fqz37A">pic.twitter.com/6Ho2Fqz37A</a>
Pele's life after soccer took many forms. He was a politician — Brazil's Extraordinary Minister for Sport — a wealthy businessman, and an ambassador for UNESCO and the United Nations.
He had roles in movies, soap operas and even composed songs and recorded CDs of popular Brazilian music.
As his health deteriorated, his travels and appearances became less frequent. He was often seen in a wheelchair during his final years and did not attend a ceremony to unveil a statue of him representing Brazil's 1970 World Cup team. Pele spent his 80th birthday isolated with a few family members at a beach home.
Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, in the small city of Tres Coracoes in the interior of Minas Gerais state on Oct. 23, 1940, Pele grew up shining shoes to buy his modest soccer gear.
Pele was surrounded by family in hospital in the days before his death. (Mauro Pimentel/AFP via Getty Images)
Pele's talent drew attention when he was 11, and a local professional player brought him to Santos' youth squads. It didn't take long for him to make it to the senior squad.
Despite his youth and 5-foot-8 frame, he scored against grown men with the same ease he displayed against friends back home. He debuted with the Brazilian club at 16 in 1956, and the club quickly gained worldwide recognition.
The name Pele came from him mispronouncing the name of a player called Bile.
Pele underwent chemotherapy in his fight against cancer since he had a colon tumor removed in September 2021. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
He went to the 1958 World Cup as a reserve but became a key player for his country's championship team. His first goal, in which he flicked the ball over the head of a defender and raced around him to volley it home, was voted as one of the best in World Cup history.
The 1966 World Cup in England — won by the hosts — was a bitter one for Pele, by then already considered the world's top player. Brazil was knocked out in the group stage and Pele, angry at the rough treatment, swore it was his last World Cup.
He changed his mind and was rejuvenated in the 1970 World Cup. In a game against England, he struck a header for a certain score, but the great goalkeeper Gordon Banks flipped the ball over the bar in an astonishing move. Pele likened the save — one of the best in World Cup history — to a "salmon climbing up a waterfall." Later, he scored the opening goal in the final against Italy, his last World Cup match.
The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. <br>RIP KING 💔👑… <a href="https://t.co/F55PrcM2Ud">pic.twitter.com/F55PrcM2Ud</a>
In all, Pele played 114 matches with Brazil, scoring a record 95 goals, including 77 in official matches.
His run with Santos stretched over three decades until he went into semi-retirement after the 1972 season. Wealthy European clubs tried to sign him, but the Brazilian government intervened to keep him from being sold, declaring him a national treasure.
On the field, Pele's energy, vision and imagination drove a gifted Brazilian national team with a fast, fluid style of play that exemplified "O Jogo Bonito" — Portuguese for "The Beautiful Game." His 1977 autobiography, "My Life and the Beautiful Game," made the phrase part of soccer's lexicon.
In 1975, he joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. Although 34 and past his prime, Pele gave soccer a higher profile in North America. He led the Cosmos to the 1977 league title and scored 64 goals in three seasons.
Pele ended his career on Oct. 1, 1977, in an exhibition between the Cosmos and Santos before a crowd in New Jersey of some 77,000. He played half the game with each club. Among the dignitaries on hand was perhaps the only other athlete whose renown spanned the globe — Muhammad Ali.
Pele would endure difficult times in his personal life, especially when his son Edinho was arrested on drug-related charges. Pele had two daughters out of wedlock and five children from his first two marriages, to Rosemeri dos Reis Cholbi and Assiria Seixas Lemos. He later married businesswoman Marcia Cibele Aoki.
A Dominican court convicted 10 people involved in the 2019 attempted killing of baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
Ortiz, a Dominican native, was ambushed by a man who got off a motorcycle and shot him in the back at close range while the former Red Sox slugger was at a bar with friends in a well-off neighborhood of Santo Domingo
Two men, including the alleged shooter Rolfi Ferreyra Cruz, were each sentenced to 30 years in prison by Santo Domingo's First Collegiate Court.
Eight others received prison sentences of between five and 20 years. Three other defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, including Victor Hugo Gomez Vasquez, who was accused of planning the attack.
American private investigators hired by Ortiz said that the slugger affectionately known as Big Papi was targeted by a Dominican drug trafficker who was jealous of him.
The findings by former Boston police commissioner Edward Davis contradicted a previous theory by law enforcement in the Dominican Republic that the hitman was actually hired to shoot Ortiz's cousin Sixto David Fernandez, who was sitting at the same table.
Dominican authorities said the hitmen confused Fernandez with Ortiz, one of the country's most beloved ballplayers.
A fearsome power hitter with a ready smile, Ortiz led the Red Sox to three World Series championships, was a 10-time All-Star and hit 541 home runs before retiring in 2016. When he was shot, he was living part of the year in the Dominican Republic.
Ortiz was seriously wounded in the June 2019 shooting. Doctors in the Dominican Republic removed Ortiz's gallbladder and part of his intestine after the shooting and he underwent further surgery in the U.S.
Among the crimes for which the 10 men were sentenced were criminal organization, use of illegal firearms, attempted murder, and complicity, the court wrote in a statement.
Authorities noted that more details of the sentencing will be released on Feb. 8, 2023.
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Janetsky reported from Havana. Associated Press writer Martin Jose Adames Alcantara contributed to this report from Santo Domingo.
Thomas Milic is scheduled to start in net for Team Canada when they play their second game of the World Junior Championship tournament on Wednesday against Germany, head coach Dennis Williams announced.
Team Canada did not skate Tuesday, but Williams said there are other lineup changes planned after seeing the team lose their opening game of the tournament.
Thomas Milic starts for 🇨🇦 tomorrow, Dennis Williams says
No practice today, but the coach says there will be lineup changes coming against 🇩🇪 @TSN_Edge
Benjamin Gaudreau started for Canada against Czechia on Monday, and made just 12 saves of the 17 shots he faced. He was pulled from the game after allowing the fifth goal just before halfway through the second period.
Canada went on to lose the game 5-2, but Milic saved all 10 shots he saw in relief of Gaudreau, including holding the door shut against two powerplays for the Czech side.
Williams was disappointed with the opening effort for a Canada squad that features three players with NHL experience and a bevy of top 2023 NHL Draft prospects.
"Our discipline wasn't great and a lot of guys played an individual game. So that's something we got to address. And we've got a day to prep here," said Williams after the game against Czechia.
Canada has three more games of Round Robin action to right the ship, the first of which will be played against Germany on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 6:30pm EST / 3:30pm PST. You can watch the game LIVE on TSN1/4/5, TSN.ca and the TSN App.
There were two upsets at the World Junior Hockey Championship in the Maritimes yesterday.
Czechia surprised Canada 5-2 and Switzerland scored in overtime against Finland.
A 5-minute major on Zach Dean of Mount Pearl for an illegal hit to the head helped pave the way for the Czechs, who scored twice on the ensuing power play. The call is not one seen in the NHL, but is consistent with IIHF rules and officiating in the tournament so far. Canada also took five minor penalties and did not have strong goaltending.
Their next game is Wednesday night against Germany.
Czechia 5, Canada 2 --Jaroslav Chmelar (New York Rangers) and Matous Mensik (2023 draft eligible) scored power-play goals 33 seconds apart in the second period to break the game open in a Group A game at Scotiabank Centre.
It was Czechia's second victory against Canada, and first regulation, in 24 games at the World Juniors, including a 5-4 shootout win at the 2014 tournament.
David Spacek (Minnesota Wild) and Stanislav Svozil (Columbus Blue Jackets) each had a goal and an assist for Czechia. Tomas Suchanek (2023 draft eligible) made 36 saves and had an assist.
"It's unreal," Svozil said. "This was just the first game of the tournament, and we knew we had to win two games to qualify [for the playoffs], so this is nice. When we got that fifth goal and they had only two, we felt we were in control."
Shane Wright (Seattle Kraken) and Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, scored for Canada. Benjamin Gaudreau (San Jose Sharks) allowed five goals on 16 shots before being replaced in the second period by Thomas Milic (2023 draft eligible), who made 11 saves.
It's the first time Canada has lost its first game at the World Juniors since a 6-4 loss to the United States in 2016.
"They outworked us," Canada forward Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) said. "You can't take any team lightly. They had a good game, so credit to them. It's a learning curve. They say you win or you learn, and tonight it was learning.
"Obviously, there's a lot of hype about our team, but at the same time, you want to win especially with this amazing crowd. Now we have to bounce back in two days. It doesn't hurt to go through a game like this. Every team does. It's good for us and a little bit humbling."
Canada got within 3-2 on Bedard's goal at 1:29 of the second period, but forward Zach Dean (Vegas Golden Knights) was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head at 4:21.
On the ensuing power play, Chmelar banged in a loose puck in the crease to make it 4-2 at 8:14, and then Mensik skated down the left side and found space between Gaudreau's blocker and the post to make it 5-2 at 8:47.
Wright scored on a power play to give Canada a 1-0 lead at 10:33 of the first period.
Spacek dropped down and scored backdoor after receiving a pass from Svozil to tie it 1-1 at 17:48, and then David Moravec, who plays for Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, put Czechia up 2-1 at 18:23.
Szovil extended it to 3-1 with a wrist shot from the left face-off circle 44 seconds into the second.
Czechia next plays Austria on Tuesday (6:30 p.m. ET). Canada plays Germany on Wednesday (6:30 p.m. ET).
United States 5, Latvia 2 --Sean Behrens (Colorado Avalanche) and Redmond Savage (Detroit Red Wings) each had a goal and an assist in a Group B game at Avenir Centre.
Jimmy Snuggerud (St. Louis Blues), Chaz Lucius (Winnipeg Jets) and Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils) each scored, and Trey Augustine (2023 draft eligible) made 15 saves.
Anri Ravinskis (2023 draft eligible) and Niks Fenenko (2023 draft eligible) scored for Latvia. Patricks Berzins (2023 draft eligible) made 41 saves.
The U.S. broke the game open with three goals in the third period.
"We just settled down for the third and kind of played with more character," U.S. coach Rand Pecknold said. "I thought in the first two periods we were nervous and made a couple of mistakes that ended up in the back of the net. But we had plenty of chances, so we just talked about letting our character come through in the third."
Lucius skated down the slot and beat Berzins with a backhand to make it 3-2 at 1:57.
Savage extended it to 4-2 at 6:48 when he scored on the rebound of a shot by Dylan Duke (Tampa Bay Lightning).
Hughes, the U.S. captain, scored from the point to make it 5-2 at 13:29.
Snuggerud gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead 24 seconds into the second period when he knocked in a loose puck in the crease.
Ravinskis tied it at 4:59, finishing a give-and-go with Rainers Rullers (2023 draft eligible).
Behrens gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead at 9:17 when he one-timed a pass to the point by Savage.
Latvia tied the game on Fenenko's goal at 14:24 through a screen.
"We're not proud because we lost, but we gave them a good battle," Ravinskis said. "So it was a good game. We made some mistakes, especially the third period wasn't the best one. But still, we're going to keep our heads up and prepare for the next game. "
Latvia next plays Switzerland on Tuesday (4 p.m. ET). The U.S. faces Slovakia on Wednesday (4 p.m. ET).
Switzerland 3, Finland 2 (OT) -- Attilio Biasca (2023 draft eligible) scored 41 seconds into overtime for Switzerland in a Group B game at Avenir Centre.
Lian Bichsel (Dallas Stars) pulled the puck out of traffic in the right corner in the Finland zone and passed to Biasca, who scored from the right face-off circle.
"Two guys were battling in the corner," Biasca said. "I was staying a little high, and then Bichsel made a great play to me. And I tried to shoot it and it worked."
Lorenzo Canonica (2023 draft eligible) and Jeremy Jabola (2023 draft eligible) also scored for Switzerland. Kevin Pasche (2023 draft eligible) made 14 saves.
Kalle Vaisanen (New York Rangers) had a goal and an assist for Finland and Konsta Kapanen (2023 draft eligible) scored. Aku Koskenvuo (Vancouver Canucks) made 24 saves.
"I thought we played afraid to win," Finland forward Brad Lambert (Winnipeg Jets) said. "We weren't attacking enough. We didn't win enough 1-on-1 battles. We didn't have the puck enough. We just didn't play fast enough. We're faster than them, but we played too slow, too careful, and it cost us."
Kapanen gave Finland a 1-0 lead at 2:24 of the second period when he scored off the rebound of a Vaisanen shot before Canonica tied it at 12:54 with a shot from the slot.
Jabola put Switzerland ahead 2-1 at 4:43 of the third period when he poked in a loose puck in the slot.
Vaisanen tied the game at 8:09 when he took the puck off the wall, cut to the slot and beat Pasche.
Each team plays Tuesday, Finland against Slovakia (11 a.m.), Switzerland against Latvia (4 p.m. ET).
Sweden 11, Austria 0 -- Sweden scored six goals in the second period of its Group A game at Scotiabank Centre.
Isak Rosen (Buffalo Sabres) and Filip Bystedt (San Jose Sharks) each had two goals and an assist, and Fabian Wagner (Winnipeg Jets) had a goal and two assists. Carl Lindbom (Vegas Golden Knights) made 13 saves and had an assist.
"We tried to pay attention to the little things and not play with the attitude that things would come easy for us, to play the game like any other game," Bystedt said. "We have a lot of skill and offensive-minded players. We have a good mix with our defensive play as well. I think we can attack and score goals and go far in the tournament."
Thomas Pfarrmaier (2023 draft eligible) allowed six goals on 23 shots before being replaced in the second period by Benedikt Oschgan (2023 draft eligible), who made 17 saves on 22 shots.
"I think our goal coming into this tournament was not to look at scores but just compete every night," Austria forward Ian Scherzer (2023 draft eligible) said. "We don't have a set goal except to do our best and see what happens. But today, we had a lot of breakdowns and gave them way too many scoring chances. We made it too easy for them."
Rosen opened the scoring at 13:17 of the first period, and Bystedt made it 2-0 at 17:49 when he scored off the rebound of Rosen's shot.
Sweden started its second period with a goal by Rosen 48 seconds into the period to make it 3-0.
Simon Robertsson (St. Louis Blues), Jonathan Lekkerimaki (Vancouver Canucks), Liam Ohgren (Minnesota Wild), Calle Odelius (New York Islanders) and Milton Oscarson (2023 draft eligible), who had a short-handed-goal, also scored in the second.
Wagner scored on a 2-on-1 rush to make it 9-0 at 2:45 of the third period, Bystedt scored a power-play goal at 4:06 and Oskar Pettersson (Ottawa Senators) closed the scoring at 13:50.
Each team plays Tuesday, Sweden against Germany (1:30 p.m. ET), Austria against Czechia (6:30 p.m. ET).
Vinzenz Rohrer - 18 - C/RW - (OHL) For Rohrer, this tournament would be a whole lot easier if old colleague (and Detroit Red Wings 2021 first rounder) Marco Kasper were along for the ride, but now the burden of leading the tournament’s biggest underdog to a quarter-final spot lays firmly on the shoulders of this Montreal Canadians draft pick, an Ottawa 67’s player who knows how to win battles in the corners and get the puck to the net.
David Reinbacher - 18 - D - Kloten (SUI, NL) Reinbacher has been spending this fall making himself a very hot topic for next season’s NHL draft. And it’s clear as to why when a smooth-skating, 190 cm, righty shot defender is putting up 0.50 points per game in Switzerland’s top professional league. When the game is on the line for Austria, he’ll be on the ice. Recently made his debut for the men’s national team, so there’s that.
Canada
Connor Bedard - 17 - C/RW - Regina Pats (WHL) Seemingly from another solar system, Bedard is the most highly touted talent outside of the NHL since Connor McDavid. In fact, if it were permitted by the rules, he’d likely be playing NHL hockey right now. Instead, he’ll be flashing his wares - under the heaviest of microscopes - right at home in the biggest junior tournament on the planet. Easy for one of the most exciting talents you’ll ever want to see.
Brandt Clarke - 19 - D - Los Angeles Kings (NHL) Fleet-footed and one of the passers on this team, if not the tournament, Clarke has spent this season skating for the Los Angeles Kings (9 games) and their AHL affiliate (5 games), making him one of the biggest profiles you’ll see in Halifax. A huge component for Coach Williams plans on an already star-studded blueline.
Dylan Guenther - 19 - RW/LW - Arizona Coyotes (NHL) If you think you just saw this young man recently at an NHL rink, you’re probably right. With 21 games (11 points) under his belt in the NHL this season, Guenther’s participation in this tournament will surprise more than a few, but he’s ready to occupy the Ovechkin spot on the top power play unit and score goals until he’s got a chunk of gold around his neck.
Shane Wright - 18 - C - Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) Captain Canada has seen 8 games of NHL action and another five (5 goals) in the AHL this season. After missing the summer U20 session, he’s now here to add some new hardware to his trophy cabinet after being a dominant force (14 points in 5 games) in earning gold at the 2021 U18 Worlds. You’re going to hear his name a lot, one way or another.
Olen Zellweger - 19 - D - Everett Silvertips (WHL) Zellweger is the reigning WHL defender of the year and is tearing apart that league from the blueline again this season. About the smallest player on Canada’s blueline, Zellweger’s 11 points were instrumental in gaining gold this past summer and you shouldn’t be surprised in the least if he ends up being this tournament’s best defender, if not overall MVP.
Czechia
David Jiricek - 19 - D - Cleveland Monsters (AHL) Selected 6th overall in last summer’s NHL draft, Jiricek has already made the move from pro hockey in Czechia to his first two NHL games and now 19 AHL contests, in which he has a whopping 20 points. Blowing away expectations at this early juncture, Czechia needs him to blow away the competition here if they’re to repeat their semifinal appearance this past summer.
Jiri Kulich - 18 - C/W - Rochester Americans (AHL) One of the Buffalo Sabres’ three first-round picks this past summer, Kulich has joined Jiricek in jumping from Czechia’s top league to the AHL, where he has 16 points in 24 games this season. He’s got a bomb of a shot, put the constant use on the power play and was the top goal scorer (9) at the U18 Worlds last spring. Oh, and he’s coming off of 8 points in 7 games at the summer World Juniors.
Stanislav Svozil - 19 - D - Regina Pats (WHL) Like Jiricek, a draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Svozil is now a bonafide veteran of this tournament as this is his third appearance. A true all-purpose weapon for his coach, Svozil is currently a teammate of Canada’s Connor Bedard and seems to be enjoying that status as he has 32 assists and 37 total points in just 28 games this season.
Germany
Roman Kechter - 18 - C - Nuremberg Ice Tigers (GER, DEL) After spending a few seasons as a junior with the Rogle program in Sweden, Kechter is back in Germany and making his way in a lower line role as one of the youngest players in the DEL. He meant a lot to the U18 squad last spring and is pumped to “arrive” on the international stage at this event. Coach Abstreiter will be giving him every opportunity to do so.
Bennet Rossmy - 19 - C/LW - Eisbären Berlin (GER, DEL) Weighing in at a hulking 192 cm and 95 kg, Rossmy will be the team’s captain and is the returning top scorer (5 points in as many games) from the summer World Juniors. He’s currently taking a regular shift for reigning DEL champion Berlin and will be the team’s go-to offensive weapon in Halifax.
Simon Wolf - 18 - G - Red Bull Juniors (AUT, AlpsHL) Don’t let his numbers at recent U18 Worlds fool you. The well-schooled 190 cm, 90 kg netminder has a good shot at being the man in net, and thus a key to any success Germany should enjoy in the days to come. He’s killing it for the Red Bull Juniors of the AlpsHL this season (a 9-1 record) and defeated Slovakia 5-0 in a pre-tournament test game.
Sweden
Leo Carlsson - 17 - LW - Orebro (SWE, SHL) A supreme combo of talent and size, Carlsson is considered a likely top 5 pick in next summer’s NHL draft. He currently has 14 points in 25 SHL games for Orebro and has both the figure and skating ability to bulldoze his way through or around opponents at this tournament. A top six role is in the cards despite his age.
Fabian Lysell - 19 - RW - (AHL) One of the contestants in this tournament who seems to be on the fast track to the NHL, Lysell left SHL Lulea last season to gain North American experience in the WHL. After an impressive playoffs, he had a starring role at the summer World Juniors (6 points in 7 games) and is now putting up just about a point per game in the AHL (19 points in 20 games). If anyone is shooting Sweden to gold, it’ll be Lysell.
Isak Rosen - 19 - LW - Rochester Americans (AHL) He played a minor role for Leksand in the SHL last season but jumped out of the gates in an impressive manner this season in the AHL with 15 points in his first 25 games. The Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick is one of several contestants in the tournament to currently be playing AHL hockey and will be looked at as an offense-creating first liner who really knows how to make use of passing lines.
Axel Sandin Pellikka - 17 - D - Skelleftea (SWE, SHL) His NHL draft stock has been rising quickly all fall long and you don’t have to spend too much time watching him strut his stuff on SHL ice to figure out why. Extremely smooth as both a skater and a stickhandler, Sandin Pellikka is looking like a premiere talent moving forward and in light of the overall blandness of Sweden’s current blueline, could wiggle his way into a starring role the next 10 days.
After months of speculation and interest from multiple teams, the Diamondbacks finally traded one of their left-handed hitting outfielders and the Blue Jays finally moved one of their catchers. The two clubs joined forces on Friday’s three-player deal that saw outfielder Daulton Varsho head to Toronto in exchange for catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., in a trade that checks several boxes for both organizations.
Given how the D’Backs and Jays’ needs dovetailed so neatly, it isn’t a surprise that Toronto GM Ross Atkins said it was “from the very beginning of the off-season that dialogue began” between the two sides.
“It absolutely was a great fit with their surplus of outfielders, specifically left-handed hitting centre fielders and us having a surplus of catching and their need,” Atkins told reporters, including TSN’s Scott Mitchell. “Right from the start, we felt that was going to be a very important team and fit.”
The Blue Jays entered the winter with Moreno, Alejandro Kirk, and Danny Jansen all lined up as options behind the plate, with Moreno (one of the game’s best prospects) looking ready for an extended audition after making his MLB debut with 25 games played in 2022. While Varsho has only 283 MLB games on his resume, he was actually the most experienced of Arizona’s outfield core — Corbin Carroll and Alek Thomas both made their big league debuts in 2022, and Jake McCarthy has appeared in 123 games for the Diamondbacks over the last two seasons.
Varsho’s longer track record seemingly made him the most sought-after player by interested teams, especially since the D’Backs made Carroll (another elite prospect) all but untouchable in trade negotiations. With the Diamondbacks intent on adding “impact in this trade,” according to Arizona general manager Mike Hazen, that need couldn’t be met just by shopping Thomas or McCarthy.
“I think there was more certainty — and clearly, we have it, too — with Daulton’s performance to this point in his career, and probably rightly so, that teams were willing to pay more for that. I don’t know that we were ever going to cross that divide otherwise,” Hazen told the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro and other reporters.
Such teams as the Yankees, Reds, White Sox, Athletics, Astros, Brewers, and Marlins were also linked to the Diamondbacks’ outfielders on the rumor mill, as both contenders and rebuilding teams alike had interest in Arizona’s mix of controllable young players. Likewise, Toronto got lots of calls about its catchers, but reports suggested that the Blue Jays first wanted to wait and see where some other catchers on the free agent and trade market landed. Once the Braves acquired Sean Murphy from Oakland and once Willson Contreras (Cardinals) and Christian Vazquez (Twins) signed, the road was then a little more clear for the D’Backs and Jays to align on a trade.
Even then, Atkins said that finding a match was tricky since “all three catchers were of some interest to them and all of their outfielders were of some interest to us. The component that made it challenging is that we were both trying to consolidate more talent on our Major League roster. They are looking to take steps forward obviously and push the envelope on the winning front and that’s why Lourdes Gurriel came into the picture and made this deal work.”
Gurriel’s inclusion gives the D’Backs a veteran but not old (Gurriel is entering his age-29) outfield presence to join with Carroll, McCarthy, Thomas, and former AL Rookie Of The Year Kyle Lewis, who was acquired in another trade with the Mariners earlier this winter. “I’m hoping the contact, the on-base, the ability to hit, the two-strike approach, is going to lend itself to making our lineup even tougher to face with the way some of those kids are going to be running around the bases the way they did last year,” Hazen said. “I feel like a lot of that dynamic offense has a chance to be enhanced.”
The trade with the Jays and Mariners represent Arizona’s biggest moves of the winter, as the D’Backs have otherwise mostly focused on their bullpen with relatively lower-tier moves like the signings of Miguel Castro and Scott McGough. Friday also saw the D’Backs complete another trade, bringing Diego Castillo from the Pirates to add more infield depth to the mix.
With Arizona still trying to finds its footing after three straight losing seasons, the Blue Jays are in a different position as a club intending to compete for a World Series in 2023. After a disappointing collapse against Seattle in the Wild Card Series, the Jays have been aggressive in signing right-hander Chris Bassitt to a three-year, $63MM deal, signing Kevin Kiermaier to a one-year contract, and trading Teoscar Hernandez to the Mariners for Erik Swanson and prospect Adam Macko.
Now that the Jays finally pulled the trigger on a catcher trade, Atkins said “I think our heavy lifting is done” for the rest of the offseason, though the front office is “certainly not ruling anything out and would expect some incremental improvements.” Varsho and Kiermaier are both left-handed hitters, and thus the Blue Jays will “look to improve our team from the subtraction of Gurriel, but in our view it doesn’t need to be right-handed or left-handed, it’s more about the impact and the fit beyond that.”
The Canadian Press
Published Friday, December 23, 2022 5:12PM EST
Last Updated Friday, December 23, 2022 5:13PM EST
The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired outfielder Daulton Varsho from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and catcher Gabriel Moreno.
Varsho hit 27 homers and drove in 74 runs for the Diamondbacks last season.
He gives the Blue Jays a much-needed power bat from the left side.
Gurriel spent five seasons with Toronto. He hit five homers and drove in 52 runs last season.
Moreno was one of Toronto's top prospects. He made his big-league debut last June and hit .319 in 25 games last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2022.
The IIHF World Junior Championship has become ubiquitous -- in hockey circles at least -- with the Christmas holiday season. And the tournament returns this year to its usual place of honor.
That's after the 2022 championship was shuttered in December 2021 amid a spike of COVID-19 cases within the Edmonton "bubble," which was serving as the tournament's venue. The event was ultimately restaged there in August, with Team Canada beating Team Finland 3-2 in overtime to claim gold.
So, if you're feeling some déjà vu -- "wait, didn't they just crown a World Junior champion?" -- you're not wrong; Canada hasn't had long to lord its victory over others. Them's the breaks.
Because Canada -- along with nine other nations -- is back to battling for another WJC top prize. Pre-tournament action was underway earlier this week and gives way to preliminary round games starting Monday.
The 10 participating teams exist in two groups at two different locations: Group A features Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Germany and Austria playing at Scotiabank Center in Halifax, Nova Scotia, while Group B has the United States, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Latvia at Avenir Center in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Organizers didn't intend for Canadian cities to host the tournament again so soon after Edmonton's back-to-back turn. In 2018, the IIHF announced Novosibirsk, Russia (for Group A), and Omsk, Russia (for Group B), would share duties for 2023. But those plans changed in February because of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which the IIHF condemned by not only stripping Russia of its hosting rights but suspending teams from Russia and Belarus from international hockey indefinitely.
And so, the World Juniors return to Canada for a third consecutive year. Once the playing field has been whittled down in separate locations, the top four teams from each group move onto the quarterfinals, starting Jan. 2. The semifinals follow on Jan. 4, and the bronze and gold medal games pop up on Jan. 5. The bottom-ranked teams from each group will play a best-of-three series in relegation.
Before all that fun begins, let's go over major storylines to monitor and highlight key players to keep an eye on. If history has taught us anything, there's always something unexpected ahead when the game's best young talent squares off.
Can Adam Fantilli outshine Connor Bedard?
There are no guarantees when it comes to the NHL draft rankings and results. Just ask Shane Wright.
This time last year, there was zero question -- or so it seemed -- that Wright would be the No. 1 overall pick in July. Instead, Montreal went way off script by selecting Juraj Slafkovsky in the top spot and Wright fell to Seattle at No. 4.
Now, it's Canada's Connor Bedard who's on track to be taken first in June. His teammate Adam Fantilli would like to be the Slafkovsky-like spoiler.
But it won't be easy.
Bedard has an impeccable résumé. In 2020, he became just the seventh player (after the likes of Connor McDavid, John Tavares and Aaron Ekblad) to be granted "exceptional status" by Hockey Canada to appear in the Western Hockey League at just 15 years old. The pandemic interrupted Bedard's debut campaign with the WHL's Regina Pats, but the center finished 2021-22 with 100 points in 62 games. He leads the WHL this season with 64 points in 28 games.
Bedard, 17, is more than just a scoring threat, though. The North Vancouver, British Columbia, native is also an enviable playmaker and silky skater, possessing an incomparably wicked shot and mind for the game that moves so quick, he's constantly one step ahead on the ice. He could be the total package.
Fantilli forged a different path than Bedard through his junior career. The Toronto-area product spent two seasons with the USHL's Chicago Steel from 2020 to 2022, where he produced 110 points in 103 games. Fantilli graduated from there to the University of Michigan, and is midway through a successful freshman campaign (26 points in 16 games).
So, where might Fantilli have an edge over Bedard? In size, for one. The 18-year-old comes in at 6-foot-2 to Bedard's 5-foot-10. Fantilli has potential as a power forward who's tenacious on the forecheck and can outduel opponents in front of the net. He's fast and skilled and could be an eventual No. 1 center for an NHL team.
Scouts will see Fantilli and Bedard sharing a sheet for the next few weeks. It's an opportunity for both players to showcase the best they have to offer. Could one tournament make or break a franchise-altering decision? Likely not. But Team Canada's stars will draw a spotlight regardless. What they do with that attention? We'll be watching to find out.
Can Team USA get back on top?
Team USA entered the 2022 tournament as reigning gold medal winners following a triumph over Canada the previous winter. They wound up leaving Edmonton (Part II) with a disappointing fifth-place finish. Two years ago, the USA came in sixth.
Overall, the Americans have enjoyed ample success at past World Juniors though, capturing four gold, one silver and three bronze medals since 2010. And they've already gone 2-0 in pre-tournament action to date.
If Team USA wants to add more hardware, it will need continued performances from its veteran skaters.
Enter Luke Hughes.
Team USA's captain and defensive scoring leader had six points in five games at the 2022 WJC and has put together a nice season so far at Michigan (18 points in 20 games). The 19-year-old -- brother to NHLers Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes -- will be looked to for leadership on and off the ice, to anchor the American blue line and to bolster special team units. Hughes is a terrific skater who was impressive in pre-tournament action scoring a game-opening goal for the U.S. He'll likely be at the forefront of any American success to come.
Then there's the forward group, headed by Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud. Cooley was just drafted third overall by Arizona in July and wields a sharp two-way game and blistering wrist shot. Getting some experience during his freshman season at the University of Minnesota (25 points in 19 games) should only have helped Cooley mature and make him reliable and dangerous in every situation.
Snuggerud is Cooley's teammate at Minnesota (second in NCAA scoring, with 27 points in 20 games thus far). While this is his WJC debut, Snuggerud appears unfazed by a big stage. He was strong in the early games, boasting a size (6-foot-2) and skill that can complement anyone he's playing with.
Cutter Gauthier -- already on Team USA's top line with Cooley and Snuggerud -- is another player to watch. Ditto for Sean Behrens on the back end and Kenny Connors in the bottom six rotation. What should set Team USA apart is its depth. On paper -- and by the looks of those two games in the books -- there's potential for this to be a multifaceted foe any opponent would fear.
If the Americans can avoid hurting themselves via unforced errors and careless penalties, and there's solid goaltending ahead from Kaidan Mbereko, especially, Team USA has to like its chances of being in the top-three mix again in January.
Can a certain Swede raise his stock?
You know Bedard. And Fantilli. And how they are likely to be the top two prospects in this year's draft (as of now).
Now say hello to Leo Carlsson.
The Swedish forward is a projected top-five choice in 2023 who could push his way up a few draft boards with a successful World Juniors showing. What could that look like for the 17-year-old? It starts from the foundation he's already built.
Carlsson's been honing his skills the past two years with Orebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League, facing high-end competition that's helped rapidly mature his game. The center has consistently produced points this season -- 14 in 25 tilts to date -- but Carlsson's impact goes beyond scoring goals. He's a play-driving forward, is good in transition and gets to the net and creates for linemates. An October video of Carlsson deftly stickhandling through a crowd quickly turned heads and showcased what sets him apart from other skaters his age.
Another defining Carlsson quality is his preternatural calm that leads to confidence. The teenager appears unaffected by added pressure, which bodes well for Carlsson's potential to pierce the NHL ranks sooner than later once he is drafted.
Sweden took home bronze at last season's WJC and earned five other medals -- including one gold and three silver -- since 2012. It is a motivated bunch again this year, and it's the ultimate opportunity for Carlsson to make his case as a top-three selection come June.
It's worth noting that another player gunning for similar consideration won't be on display the next couple weeks -- at least not in this tournament. Matvei Michkov would be highlighting a roster for Team Russia if there was one. Some have already anointed the 18-year-old forward a future face of Russian hockey. But instead of representing his country right now in Canada, Michkov has inked a deal to suit up for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL through 2025-26.
Michkov's draft potential is complicated. Given the talent and high hockey IQ Michkov flaunts, NHL clubs will still be interested in securing his rights for down the line -- Kirill Kaprizov was drafted in 2015, but didn't make his NHL debut until the 2020-21 season. But will Michkov come off the board before or after Carlsson? And if the Swedish standout does enough at World Juniors, can he gain the inside track on Michkov? Oh, the drama.
Can an underdog contender emerge?
Now, "underdog" is a relative term here, used mostly to describe "not Canada or the United States."
We already know those North American squads are expected to excel and are routinely considered the ones to beat. So, who might be up to the task?
Finland
Only Canada, the U.S. and Finland have won gold at the past 10 World Juniors. And Finland was one overtime marker away from topping Canada on the podium in August. Months later, Finland is primed to make another strong push in the tournament.
Finland's team philosophy works from the defense out, so Aleksi Heimosalmi and Otto Salin should be setting a tone on the blue line that extends everywhere else. Even though skaters like Joakim Kemell and Niko Huuhtanen can score (and the Finns are hopeful Brad Lambert starts showing up on the scoresheet, too), defense is Finland's first priority. If it can stick to its script, Finland has a good chance of getting a medal.
Czechia
The plucky group finished fourth in last season's tournament, a wild ride that included losing to Latvia and then eliminating the undefeated Americans. It was Tomas Suchanek's incredible performance in net that delivered the latter outcome, and Suchanek has returned to backstop Czechia. He might not be an elite netminder, but Suchanek works hard and plays behind a defense led by David Jiricek. The Columbus Blue Jackets' prospect has had a terrific season in the AHL, averaging a point per game and is supported by Tomas Hamara and Stanislav Svozil.
Up front, it's Buffalo Sabres' prospect Jiri Kulich -- who has 16 points in 24 AHL games this season -- and New York Rangers' selection Jaroslav Chmelar -- a standout freshman at Providence College -- challenging opponents. All in all, Czechia's got real potential to surprise.
Sweden
Recently, Sweden has failed to turn excellent preliminary round performances into gold-medal game appearances; it hasn't been to that stage since 2018. The Swedes' mission to return starts with the previously mentioned Carlsson and extends to several key players showing up.
Goaltender Carl Lindblom takes over for Jesper Wallstedt, and there's high hopes for what the Golden Knights' prospect can bring given the great season he's having in the Swedish professional league, HockeyAllsvenskan. Sweden's biggest weakness might be its lack of top-tier defensemen, so the forward group will be relied on even more to drive Sweden's success. It has Carlsson there, along with Filip Bystedt (a first-round choice by San Jose in 2022) and Fabian Lysell (a 2021 first-round choice by Boston).
The question mark is Vancouver prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who hasn't produced a point in the SHL since November, but has game-changing potential when he's going. He'll have something to prove at this tournament and that could be a huge boost for Sweden.
Can Austria sidestep relegation?
What is relegation? Glad you asked!
At the end of the WJC's round-robin, the two last-placed teams will play a best-of-three series. Whichever team wins will be allowed back at next year's tournament; the loser is relegated to Division 1 Group A.
How does Austria avoid this fate? Another good question!
Austria has injected some fun into the WJC since reaching top-tier status in 2021. That hasn't resulted in further success. The IIHF removed relegation the past two seasons, so Austria didn't have to worry about slipping back there (and given Austria was 0-4 and outscored 28-1 in no-relegation 2020, it truly dodged a bullet). But there's no such luck this time around.
Unfortunately, Austria won't have its biggest name in Marco Kasper. The Detroit Red Wings prospect opted to continue working on his game with the SHL's Rogle BK. Bummer for Austria. Also not around is goaltender Sebastian Wraneschitz, who made 119 saves in two games during the 2021 tournament that might have actually resulted in a win if he'd gotten any goal support.
There's still hope for Austria, though. Forward Vinzenz Rohrer has been lighting up the OHL with 32 points in 26 games for the Ottawa 67's, and 2023 draft-eligible Ian Scherzer can build off a strong showing in last summer's tournament with another two-way performance here. On the back end, keep your eyes peeled for David Reinbacher. He had two assists through four games at the last WJC, and has collected 14 points in 28 games with the Swiss league's Kloten HC this season. A dual threat like Reinbacher immediately improves his country's odds.
It'll be tough, though. Austria has Sweden, Czechia and Canada to face. It's Austria's final game against Germany that could tell the tale. If Austria hasn't earned any points and neither has Germany, there's a chance Austria doesn't slide into a relegation matchup that likely pits it against Latvia. Stars will need to align for Austria, but otherworldly showings from Scherzer, Reinbacher and Rohrer could help get them there.
