Power, Perfetti drive Canada to 6-3 win over Czechs in world junior hockey
CTV
Owen Power's hat trick lifted Canada to a 6-3 win over the Czechs to open the world men's under-20 hockey championship Sunday.
Owen Power's hat trick helped Canada overcome a nervous start at the world men's under-20 hockey championship with a 6-3 doubling of the Czechs on Sunday.
Canada trailed 3-1 during the first period and was an even 3-3 heading into the second. Power's two power-play goals then broke the tension for the host country at Rogers Place.
The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., became the first Canadian defenceman to score three goals in a single game at the world junior men's championship.
“I think pucks kind of just found me,” Power said. “Guys did a good job of getting me good pucks in good spots to shoot.
“There's been a ton of really good players come and play in these tournaments, so I had no idea that no one had got a hat trick, so definitely just surprised. Doing it at this stage and wearing a Canadian jersey is definitely pretty special.”
The Buffalo Sabres made Power the first overall pick in this year's NHL entry draft. The University of Michigan rearguard and Canadian teammate Cole Perfetti already won world men's championship gold medal in June playing for Canada in Riga, Latvia.
Perfetti, a Winnipeg Jets prospect playing for the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose, had three assists in the game. The Canadians leaned on the poise of Power and Perfetti in a rocky start.
