Canada just completed the opening round of the 2011 World Hockey Championship. We have decided to follow Canada closely due to the fact that three Blue Jackets are on the roster. Here are some highlights of the first round:
– There are four groups, comprised of four teams each. In the opening round each team plays the other three teams in their group once. Canada was grouped with Belarus, France and Switzerland. France has former NHLer Cristobal Huet in nets, which should help make the scores respectible.
– Antoine Vermette was injured in one of the exhibition games, and hasn’t played for Canada yet in the tournament. It remains to be seen if he will be healthy enough to get into the lineup.
– In their first game, Canada defeated Belarus 4-1. Neither Nash or Methot found the scoresheet.
– Game two for the Canadians saw them beat France in a laugher, 9-1. Nasher had a beauty of a goal, and also pitched-in with a helper. Methot was steady in a shutdown role.
-While the Swiss have given Canada fits in recent years, Canada weathered the storm and beat the Swiss this morning 4-3 in overtime. Neither CBJ player figured into any scoring.
– Jakub Voracek and the Czechs are currently 2-0, with their final game of the opening round tomorrow. Jake has a single helper in the two games, playing limited minutes.
– Fedor Tyutin of Russia hasn’t recorded a point, and the disappointing Russians are 1-1, after getting embarrassed by Germany 2-0 in the opening game. Russia’s final game of the opening round is tonight.
– Sami Lepisto and his Finnish teammates are 1-0-1, with their final game tomorrow. Sami has an assist in the two games so far.
This has been an interesting tournament so far, but other than the Germans there are no surprises in the standings. Captain Nash and Team Canada have had an easy road out of the group stage, and it only gets harder from here onwards. Hopefully Vermy can get healthy and see some action. He’ll likely be used on the wing for Canada, a position I am hoping he moves to with the Jackets.