Canada white golden at World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

Despite missing their top goal scorer and team captain in James Hamblin due to injury heading into last night’s gold medal game of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge against Russia, Canada white got the job done in convincing fashion with a 6-2 win. Players needed to step up in Hamblin’s absence and among those taking charge in the contest was Owen Tippett as he potted three goals for the hat-trick.

Tippett and Canada white got the festivities started early as he notched his first marker just 1:26 into the game. Russia responded with a tying goal a minute and a half later, and a second tally at the 6:38 mark.

As was the case in the first, Canada white got another early goal in the second and again it was Tippett finding the net this time on the power play 33 seconds in. Canada would score another two to lead 4-2 heading into the final 20 minutes.

Not wanting to mess with a good routine of scoring early in periods, Tippett scored his third goal, again on the power play 3:23 into the frame. Canada would score once more to round out the scoring.

After the game Canada white head coach Scott Walker had nothing but good things to say about his team after winning gold in the matter that they did.

“They’ve got an extreme high level of talent, skill and all that stuff. The little things they learned and the little things they were doing at the end of it is what’s going to make them pros. They were blocking shots, getting pucks in deep, and cycling,” he said.

As for the game’s hero Owen Tippett, Walker said while it’s great that he did what he did offensively, his work defensively shouldn’t be overlooked either.

“The guy is a game breaker. He’s ready to go at all times but he also did some great back checks, great tracking, great forecheck,” he said.

Scoring for Canada white were Owen Tippett (3), Gabe Vilardi, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, and Matthew Struthers.

Ian Scott had a solid game in the Canadian goal turning aside 21 of 23 shots.