Canadian junior defenceman Ryan Ellis during an exhibition game against the Finnish junior team in Calgary, Wikimedia Commons image
There are some things we come to expect when the holiday season comes around: family, friends, and the World Junior Hockey Championships. Three days into the tournament, Canada looks to be in cruise control with a 2 – 0 record. Tuesday Canada skated to a 7 – 2 victory over the Czech Republic in Buffalo, but in doing so lost some key players to injuries and suspension.
Forward Zack Kassian was given a match penalty for a check to the head or neck area while defenseman Calvin de Haan suffered a lower body injury. Kassian will serve a mandatory 1 game suspension for his match penalty meaning he will not play tomorrow versus Norway. The severity of de Haan’s injury is undetermined after being driven hard into the boards and limping off the ice. Forward Jaden Schwartz appeared to suffer a leg injury early in the game but returned to score the go ahead goal late in the 1st period. He left again the 3rd after aggravating the injury.
