Canada forward Owen Beck shoots on goalie Mathis Rousseau during the Canadian World Juniors selection camp in Oakville, Ont., on Monday, December 11, 2023. Beck scored twice as Canada beat Switzerland 6-2 in a world junior hockey championship tune-up game Friday.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Republished December 22, 2023 - 11:23 AM
Original Publication Date December 22, 2023 - 9:21 AM
ÄNGELHOLM, Sweden - Owen Beck scored twice as Canada beat Switzerland 6-2 in a world junior hockey championship tune-up game Friday.
Beck, the only player returning from Canada's championship-winning team from the 2023 world junior championship, scored the winning goal 28 seconds into the second period and capped the scoring with a short-handed goal midway through the third.
Seventeen-year-old Maclkin Celebrini had two assists, but was also assessed a boarding penalty and game misconduct at 12:55 of the second period.
Conor Geekie had a goal and an assist for Canada, and Matt Poitras, recently loaned to the team by the NHL's Boston Bruins, had a goal.
Joey Savoie and Fraser Minten also scored for Canada.
“I think we had some good momentum and bursts where we showed the type of team we have to be," Canada head coach Alan Letang said.
"On the other side, it showed that if we get too cute, too fancy and don’t manage pucks, we’re easier to play against and that’s not going to help us be successful."
Jonas Taible and Miles Muller scored for Switzerland
Mathis Rousseau made 26 saves for Canada.
Swiss goalies Alessio Beglieri and Lorin Gruter combined to make 33 saves on 39 shots.
Canada plays a final exhibition Saturday against the United States, and opens its world championship Tuesday against Finland in Gothenburg, Sweden.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2023.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version had the incorrect spelling for Mathis Rousseau's last name.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2023