And Czechia goaltender Jakub Milota was tapping his posts, customary to get settled into a game, when Canada’s Malcolm Spence jumped on a fumbled puck by Czechia’s defenders and snapped a shot past Milota just five seconds into the game, setting a new record for the fastest goal to start a game in IIHF U18 World Championship history.
Spence’s goal broke the previous record of nine seconds, which was done twice – in 2003 by Switzerland’s Peter Guggisberg and in 2008 by Germany’s Maximilian Forster.
Canada would score three more times in the opening frame en route to a 6-0 win over Czechia. Canada moves to 2-0 at the 2024 U18 Worlds to sit atop Group B, while Czechia falls to 1-1.
The first period was eventful, to say the least, with Canada scoring four times in the first 7:42, chasing Milota from the net (Bretislav Vystrcil came on in relief), and later killing off a lengthy 5-on-3 powerplay for Czechia.
The period also featured 12 penalty minutes for Canada and 56 for Czechia, 40 of which were assessed on two game misconducts. Marek Danicek (12:39 of first for check to the head) and Petr Sikora (20:00 for butt-ending) were both given five-minute majors and game misconducts.
Tig Iginla, the son of NHL and international hockey legend Jarome, was perhaps the top player from either team as he scored a shorthanded goal at 1:51 of the first and then added a powerplay marker at 7:18. Iginla’s speed in driving the net, coupled with his incredible hands, make him a force at this tournament and certainly a player the NHL scouts are excited about.
Carson Wetsch got Canada’s other goal in the first when he tipped a shot from the point by Cole Beaudoin. At the end of 20, it felt like both teams had already played an entire game.
The second period wasn’t nearly as eventful with neither team scoring and the penalty minutes coming way down.
Iginla had a breakway chance for his hat trick early in the third but lost the handle when he went forehand to backhand in an attempt to beat Vystrcil. The Czech goalie, who stopped 26 of 27 shots he faced, deserves praise for coming in off the bench in the first period and helping settle the Czechs down.
Spence added his second of the game in the third when he got his own rebound and stuffed a backhander past Vystrcil. Gavin McKenna scored his third goal of the tournament in the final minute of play to conclude the scoring.
Carter…
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