Bedard’s 2 goals lead over Canada in the final match of the men’s WC juniors in Finland
After a few easy tune-up tests, Canada had to struggle from start to finish Friday night to beat Finland 5-3 in Halifax in the final exhibition game at the men’s world junior hockey championship.
Brennan Othmann and Brandt Clarke also scored for Canada.
Leading 1-0 and 2-1, Finland got goals from Niko Huuhtase, Ville Koivu and Joakim Kemelli.
“It was important for our team to go through a game like this where we had to track and fight to get the lead back,” said Canadian coach Dennis Williams. “I thought we kept our composure and stuck to the game plan, and that mentality will pay dividends as we move forward in the tournament.”
SEE | Bedard scores twice in Canada vs. Finland final warm-up match:
Finland, which lost to the United States 5-2 on Monday, beat Canada 45-22. Canada was 3-7 on the power play and Finland 2-4.
“It’s nice to get a couple goals before the tournament starts. I’ve had a lot of chances, but the pucks just haven’t been going in,” Bedard said.
Canada will begin its world title defense on Boxing Day with a preliminary match against the Czech Republic in Halifax.
Finland, which lost to Canada 3-2 in overtime last summer in the gold medal final at the delayed Worlds, opens its tournament on Boxing Day with a game against Switzerland in Moncton, NB.