Music: {allcanada} Canadian juniors double Russia in opener

Sunday, December 26, 2010

{allcanada} Canadian juniors double Russia in opener

The Canadian power-play unit clicked at the right time in its world junior hockey tournament opener against Russia on Sunday.

With the game tied early in the third period, Ryan Johansen and Brayden Schenn scored power-play goals two minutes and 28 seconds apart to lift the juniors to a 6-3 victory at an HSBC Arena that was jammed with loud Canadian supporters.

Canada has not lost a tournament opener since 1998, when it was beaten 3-2 by host Finland and eventually finished the event in eighth place after the humiliation of a 6-3 loss to Kazakhstan in the seventh-place game.

Canada went three-for-five in man-advantage situations on Sunday.

Marcus Foligno, a Buffalo Sabres pick whose father Mike also spent most of his NHL career with the Sabres, scored a power-play goal in the first period to tie the game 1-1.

Canada went up 2-1 and 3-2 on goals from defencemen Ryan Ellis and Erik Gudbranson in the second period. Forward Curtis Hamilton added a sixth goal in the final minute of the game.

Ellis is playing in his third consecutive world junior tournament.

Canada scored only three power-play goals in its final two exhibition games against Sweden and Finland.

Roy gets start

Olivier Roy started in goal for Canada and played well enough to help give Canada an important win in the tournament opener.

The 19-year-old from Causapscal, Que., who is no relation to Hall of Famer Patrick Roy, is an Edmonton Oilers prospect.

Coach's niece stays home

Canadian head coach Dave Cameron hoped to look up into the stands at HSBC Arena and see his 25-year-old niece Kristen. But the daughter of Cameron's older brother Brian decided to stay home.

Kristen was seriously injured 3½ months ago when she was hit by a suspected drunk driver while she was cycling in Erie, Pa. She was pursuing a master's degree and in her second year as an assistant coach with the Mercyhurst College women's hockey team.

She has been recovering from her injuries in Toronto's Lyndhurst Centre for spinal cord patients.