Two teams got through the first three games of the group stage of the World Junior Championship without a loss, and they met on New Year’s Eve to decide which country would finish in the top spot in Group A.
Both Canada and Finland had been impressive throughout the tournament, with decent defensive efforts versus weaker clubs, and more than enough offence to get them wins. Thursday’s game was expected to be a close affair between teams that would check each other tightly, with some skilled play sprinkled throughout.
A typical fast start for Canada put the Finns on their heels early, with the host team piling up shots in the early minutes.