Mason McTavish ties Canadian single-game goal record in rout of Slovakia

24 hours after defeating Latvia in their tournament opener, Canada was back in action as they faced off against New York Rangers prospect Adam Sykora and Team Slovakia.

Slovakia is missing a trio of their top players, Juraj Slafkovsky, Simon Nemec and Filip Mesar, all of whom are taking the tournament off for rest.

It was a massive first period for Canada as they put four goals past Slovakian goaltender Simon Latkoczy courtesy of Connor Bedard, Will Cuylle, Brennan Othmann and Olen Zellweger.

Just over six minutes into the period, Connor Bedard and Mason McTavish had a beautiful give and go with the 2023 projected first overall pick burying it to give Canada a 1-0 lead.

Connor Bedard opens the scoring for Canada 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/q24ZvG9mKg— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

Later in the frame, New York Rangers prospect Will Cuylle was in on a breakaway and went five-hole on Simon Latkoczy to make it 2-0 Canada.

Will Cuylle doubles Canada's lead in the 1st period 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/mhza3hIbjG— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

Nearly three minutes later another New York Rangers prospect found the back of the net. Brennan Othmann, who was scratched for Canada's opener against Latvia, fired home the one-timer to extend the lead to 3-0.

Brennan Othmann converts off the turnover to give Canada a 3-0 lead 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ina5dr0eED— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

Then, with 43.2 second left in the period, Anaheim Ducks prospect Olen Zellweger threw the puck on net through a crowd, it went off the post and past Latkoczy, giving Canada a 4-0 lead as they headed to the locker room.

Make that FOUR 🚨

Olen Zellweger shelfs one to give Canada a 4-0 lead late in the 1st.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/6UCPdZ6QMz— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

The Slovakian coaching staff made a change in goal heading into the second period, with Tomas Bolo coming in relief of Simon Latkoczy, but the switch didn't seem to work, at least not right away.

Slovakia got themselves into some penalty trouble late in the first period and Canada had a 5-on-3 to start the second. Just over a minute in, Logan Stankoven picked up the rebound off of Bolo's pad and put it in to make it 5-0 Canada.

Logan Stankoven cleans up the rebound to add to Canada's lead 🚨

🇨🇦 Canada 5 - 0 🇸🇰 Slovakia#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/MSzKb9LxsI— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

Shortly after killing off a penalty, Canada ended up with nearly a 4-on-0 break and captain Mason McTavish fired it under Bolo's blocker to give his country a 6-0 lead.

Mason McTavish scores on the breakaway for his first of the tournament to make it 6-0 Canada 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/SHObrr7lb0— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

With a delayed penalty coming for Canada, the Slovaks got one back after Matej Kaslik scored his third goal of the tournament to cut the lead to five.

Matej Kaslik gives 🇸🇰 Slovakia their 1st goal of the game!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/jPPmESiDsD— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

It wouldn't be long before Canada regained their six-goal lead. Captain Mason McTavish toe-dragged around the Slovakian defender and put it top corner with his backhand for his second of the night, putting Canada up 7-1.

McTavish roofs a backhand for his second of the game to extend Canada's lead 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/0I5oAKPaHB— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

With 34 seconds left in the middle frame, Connor Bedard made a great pass to Joshua Roy before being sandwiched between two Slovak players. The pass sprung Roy on a 2-on-0 with Mason McTavish, who received the puck from the Canadiens prospect and put it home for his third of the game, 8-1 Canada.

Mason McTavish Hat-Trick Alert 🎩🎩🎩

He finishes a 2-on-0 with Joshua Roy to give Canada an 8-1 lead late in the 2nd period.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/EXmKM31Ed1— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

A few minutes into the third period, Canada forced a turnover and Brennan Othmann fed Mason McTavish alone in front, who scored his fourth of the game. McTavish's fourth of the night ties a Canadian record for most goals in a single World Junior game following in the footsteps of Mario Lemieux, Simon Gagne, Brayden Schenn, Taylor Raddysh, Maxime Comtois and Connor Bedard.

🚨 MASON MCTAVISH ties the @HockeyCanada record for most goals in 1 game at the #WorldJuniors! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/zJ129owWfy— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 12, 2022

Canada added a tenth goal with less than five minutes remaining in the third period. Joshua Roy picked up the rebound in front of Tomas Bolo and roofed it over the Slovak netminder's shoulder to make it 10-1.

that's 10! joshua roy gets in on the action with his first goal of the tournament. pic.twitter.com/Ljmz2k0zup— zach laing (@zjlaing) August 12, 2022

Ottawa Senators prospect Zack Ostapchuk picked up the puck at the side of the net and jammed it in on Bolo to give Canada its eleventh goal of the night.

Zack Ostapchuk scores late in the 3rd and 🇨🇦 Canada beats 🇸🇰 Slovakia 11-1 final score.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/L4zQcrurw7— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 12, 2022

Canada improves to 2-0-0-0 in the tournament and remain first in Group A, while Slovakia sit last in the group with an 0-0-0-2 record. Slovakia will be back in action tomorrow against Latvia, while Canada takes on Czechia on Saturday.

Players of the Game

Canada: Mason McTavish
Slovakia: Matej Kaslik

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