RED DEER, Alberta (AP) – Boston University goalkeeper Drew Commesso made 23 saves and defending champion USA opened the world championship in junior hockey with a 3-2 victory over Slovakia on Sunday night.

Up 3-0 after two periods, the Americans held on after Martin Chromiak scored two goals for Slovakia in the last period – the last with 2:33 left.

Minnesota forward Matthew Knies opened the scoring on a two-man advantage with 6:25 left in the first period, and Michigan’s Mackie Samoskevich connected 1:43 later with a one-man advantage. Notre Dame’s Landon Slaggert scored in the second.

“Our guys held together and made a tough match,” said USA coach Nate Leaman from Providence. “It is a good first step for our group. We have to keep working hard and improving before we play against Switzerland on Tuesday. “

The Americans continue to play Group B against Switzerland on Tuesday.

Simon Latkoczy made 39 saves for Slovakia.

In Edmonton in Group A, Owen Power had a hat trick to help Canada beat the Czech Republic 6-3. In the afternoon, Sweden beat Russia 6-3 in Group B in Red Deer, and Finland topped Germany 3-1 in Group A in Edmonton.

Power scored in the first period to pull Canada to 3-2, and then struck twice in a 1:25 span on a two-man powerplay in the middle of the second period to make it 5-3.

“I think the puck just found me,” Power said. “Guys did a great job of getting me good pucks in good places to shoot.”

The power was taken by the Buffalo Sabers with the top choice in the July draft. The 6-foot-6 Michigan star is the first Canadian defender to score three goals in a match in the event.

“There have been a lot of really good players who have come and played in these tournaments, so I had no idea no one had a hat trick, so definitely just surprised.” Power sa. “Doing it at this stage and wearing a Canadian shirt is definitely quite special.”

Mason McTavish, Donovan Sebrango and Olen Zellweger also scored for Canada, and Cole Perfetti had three assists. Dylan Garand made 14 saves. He signed a rookie deal with the New York Rangers last week.

Michal Gut, Pavel Novak and Stanislav Svozil scored straight to give the Czech Republic a short 3-1 lead in the first period. Jakub Malex stopped 30 shots.

Sweden’s Theodor Niederbach scored in the middle of the third period to nullify Russia’s comeback bid.

After Russia’s Matvei Michkov scored two goals in 41 seconds at the beginning of the third and reduced to 4-3, Niederbach beat goalkeeper Jaroslav Askarov to restore a two-goal margin.

Oskar Olausson, Emil Andrae, Alexander Holtz, Simon Edvinson and Daniel Ljungman also scored for Sweden, and Jesper Wallstedt made 27 saves. Fyodor Svekhkov also scored for Russia, and Askarov stopped 13 shots.

Samuel Helenius scored two goals in Finland’s victory over Germany. Joel Maatta also scored, and Leevi Merilainen made 23 saves. Luca Munzenberger scored for Germany and Nikita Quapp stopped 19 shots.

The IIHF Council said on Sunday that the same 10 teams in the top division will return for the 2023 events in Novosibirsk and Omsk, Russia. Belarus was moved up from Division IA this month, bringing the field to eleven.

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