Skip to content

McTavish scores 4 goals as Canada decimates Slovakia 11-1

Lawrence Scott / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Team Canada captain Mason McTavish netted four goals as his side dismantled Slovakia 11-1 at the World Junior Championship on Thursday.

The Anaheim Ducks prospect matched a Canadian tournament record for most goals in a single game. He equaled Mario Lemieux (1984), Simon Gagne (1999), Brayden Schenn (2011), Taylor Raddysh (2017), Maxime Comtois (2019), and linemate Connor Bedard, who accomplished the feat in December before the event was postponed due to COVID-19.

"It was definitely a cool moment for me," McTavish told TSN postgame. "Hopefully, we can bring it into the next game on Saturday."

Three of McTavish's goals came in the second period. He buried his fourth from the slot early in the final frame.

"After he got his fourth there ... we were just gonna try to feed him," Bedard said. "Unfortunately, he didn't get the fifth, but it was pretty cool to see him get four.

"We were pushing for him to get that fifth one, for sure."

Canada took first place in Group A thanks to the dominant victory.

Like Wednesday's victory over Latvia, Bedard set the tone for the tournament hosts by opening the scoring in the first period. Will Cuylle, Brennan Othmann, and Olen Zellweger found the back of the net to put Canada up 4-0 after the opening 20 minutes.

Matej Kaslik scored the lone goal for Slovakia in the second period, but McTavish responded with his second and third tallies of the contest to swing the momentum back in Canada's favor.

Logan Stankoven, Joshua Roy, and Zack Ostapchuk also lit the lamp for the Canadians, while Dylan Garand made 22 saves.

Canada outshot Slovakia 44-23. McTavish was named player of the game after logging six points.

Canada will next face off against Czechia on Saturday, while Slovakia will see Latvia on Friday.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox