After defeating Germany and Austria, Canada faced a tougher test in Sweden on New Year’s Eve at the World Juniors in Halifax.
It didn’t matter.
Team Canada won the round robin finale, beating Sweden 5-1. They scored twice at 2:08 into the game and by the 11:45 mark he was leading 3–0. Conor Bedard took each goal into account and scored assists on goals from Joshua Roy, Brennan Osman and Tyson Hines.
Joshua Roy!! Canada starts partying in 57 seconds! #World Junior pic.twitter.com/Jbf1NcbbS1
—TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 31, 2022
From Shane Wright to Brennan Osman! Canada attacked with a power play and took a 2-0 lead! #World Junior pic.twitter.com/UJBnfAWbG8
—TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 31, 2022
Ludwig Jansson closed the gap on Sweden with a goal before the end of the first period, but Osman scored again early in the third to restore Canada’s three-goal lead.
Bedard got his fourth assist on Kevin Koczynski’s third-period goal. Bedard has his 31st all-time scoring record at the world juniors, which is tied with Eric Lindros’ Canadian record.
Canada, who finished second in Group A, will face Slovakia in the quarterfinals on Monday. The Czech Republic, who beat Canada on Boxing Day, is her No. 1 and will face Switzerland.
Other quarterfinal matchups include USA vs. Germany and Finland vs. Sweden.
