Elsewhere, the USA collected their second straight win by defeating Switzerland 2-1, while Slovakia defeated Germany 4-1 and the Czech Republic outclassed Denmark 7-2.
Below are five highlights from tonight’s JVM round in Minnesota.
MCKENNA STEPPED FORWARD FOR CANADA
Victory with 7-5 against the Czech Republic in a messy premiere. Victory with 2-1 in overtime against a Latvia that has grown into something of a ghost.
Canada’s has started with five out of six possible points in Minnesota, but has not been convincing in terms of play. With the exception then of Gavin McKenna, who for the second game in a row recorded two assists and was the one who, in numerical superiority, served Hage for the overtime decider against Latvia.
“It’s two wins,” McKenna told IIHF.com about the tournament opener. Last game we scored seven goals ahead, but conceded five. This match we scored only two goals ahead. There are definitely things we need to work on from both games. But it’s two wins and you have to take that with you.
McKenna is listed for four points in two games (0+4), which makes him tied for first in the internal scoring league along with Michael Hage (2+2).
,autocrop(1200:630))