Canada holds back Latvia to open WJHC with win
Team Canada staved off an inspired Latvian squad to kick off its podium pursuit at the World Junior Championship with a 5-2 victory Wednesday night.
Forward Ridly Greig starred for the tournament hosts, logging a goal and an assist en route to being named Canada's player of the game.
Greig, a prospect for the Ottawa Senators, dazzled fans in Edmonton by poking a one-handed beauty through netminder Patriks Berzins' legs to put the Canadians up 4-1 in the second period.
Projected 2023 No. 1 pick Connor Bedard chipped in with two points, opening the scoring before the midway mark of the first period.
The Latvians stood their ground, with Rainers Darzins tying the game at one apiece before the first intermission. However, Lukas Cormier, Olen Zellweger, and Greig potted three unanswered goals for Canada in the second period.
William Dufour ultimately put the game out of reach for the underdogs after Bogdans Hodass tallied early in the third period.
Berzins made 39 saves on 44 shots, while Sebastian Cossa made 22 stops for Canada.
The bout was the third matchup between the two teams in tournament history and the first in almost six years. Canada won the previous two contests as well, outscoring Latvia by 26 to two.
Canada will square off against Slovakia at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday.