Owen Beck scored twice as Canada defeated Switzerland 6-2 in a world junior hockey championship tune-up game Friday.
Beck, the only player returning from Canada’s championship-winning team from the 2023 world junior championship, scored the winning goal 28 seconds into the second period and capped the scoring with a short-handed goal midway through the third.
Seventeen-year-old Maclkin Celebrini had two assists, but was also assessed a boarding penalty and game misconduct at 12:55 of the second period.
Conor Geekie had a goal and an assist for Canada, and Matt Poitras, recently loaned to the team by the NHL’s Boston Bruins, had a goal.
Joey Savoie and Fraser Minten also scored for Canada.
“I think we had some good momentum and bursts where we showed the type of team we have to be,” Canada head coach Alan Letang said.
“On the other side, it showed that if we get too cute, too fancy and don’t manage pucks, we’re easier to play against and that’s not going to help us be successful.”
Jonas Taible and Miles Muller scored for Switzerland
Mathis Rousseau made 26 saves for Canada.
Swiss goalies Alessio Beglieri and Lorin Gruter combined to make 33 saves on 39 shots.
Canada opens its world championship Tuesday versus Finland in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Canada adds defenceman Jorian Donovan
Canada added defenceman Jorian Donovan to its pre-tournament camp.
The move comes after defenceman Tanner Molendyk sustained an upper-body injury Friday.
Donovan has not yet been added to the team’s roster for the tournament, which runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The 19-year-old Donovan, son of former NHL player Shean Donovan, was drafted in the fifth round, 136th overall, by the Ottawa Senators in 2022.
The Calgarian has eight goals and 18 assists in 31 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs this season.
