Canada just tops Denmark in 14-0 World Junior opener

Canada came in as the tournament favourites, but nobody expected them to completely slaughter Denmark, but they opened up the 2019 World Juniors with a 14-0 destruction on Wednesday evening in Vancouver.

There wasn’t much hope for Denmark’s chances, and Morgan Frost made it clear he wasn’t going to back down. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect, who was one of Canada’s best players during the pre-tournament, would score twice and add an assist, contributing to all of Canada’s goals to make it 3-0 after a period of action.

At 4:52, Brett Leason would win the puck battle along the boards and got the pass out to Frost in front. Frost would then make a nice little move to get Mads Sogaard biting, sliding it underneath the WHL goaltender to make it 1-0 early.

Then, at 8:32, he'd help set up a goal. This time, he kept the puck in play despite what appeared to be an offside call, getting it out to the front of the net in the process. Florida Panthers prospect Owen Tippett would then capitalize on the play, scoring to make it 2-0 before the period was half over.

In the final minute of play, Frost would double up his goal count. This time, he'd come right off the bench and took a pass from Markus Phillips, skating to the right of Sogaard before getting it under his blocker, giving Canada the 3-0 lead heading into the first break.

Canada would explode for five goals in the second period, giving them the 8-0 advantage after 40. Just 45 seconds into the middle frame, Maxime Comtois would score on his own rebound after his shot was stopped by Sogaard, bouncing back to the Anaheim Ducks prospect who would make it 4-0 early in the stanza.

Two minutes into the period, Frost would seal the deal for the hat trick. Canadian goaltender Michael DiPietro, who would get the shutout in front of fans from the city that drafted him, would send the puck down the ice to Nick Suzuki. Suzuki would chip the puck to Frost in front, who make it 5-0 with the tournament’s first shutout.

Comtois wouldn't let Frost steal the show. The only returning player for Canada would score three more goals in the third period, giving himself four goals on the night to become the fifth player to do so. Brett Leason would score a pair himself, while Tippett, Mackenzie Entwhistle, Jack Studnicka and Jaret Anderson-Dolan would each score themselves to help Canada seal the deal in a 13-0 massacre.

Sogaard, one of the best goalies for the 2019 NHL draft, had a rough night. With William Rorth expected to start Denmark's second game, the Danes left Sogaard in for 11 goals on 41 shots, only to have Rorth come in and allow goals on two of the first three shots he faced.

Canada will thrust right back into action against Switzerland at 5:00 PM PT tomorrow, a rematch of Canada’s 5-3 victory over the Swiss during the pre-tournament. Denmark will play at 1:00 PM in the early contest, Russia’s first of the game.

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