Bedard dominates on third day of World Juniors
Connor Bedard isn’t messing around.
Neither was Canada.
Canada, on the strength of Bedard’s four-goal outing, moved to 2-0 in the tournament with a lopsided win against Austria.
In the only game of the 2022 World Juniors on Tuesday, Bedard set a new record becoming the youngest Canadian player to record a hat trick as part of a four-goal game in Canada’s 11-2 win against Austria. He also tied Canada’s single-game goal record set by Mario Lemieux in 1983 — and equalled four times before Bedard’s onslaught.
Connor Bedard became the youngest player at the #WorldJuniors to score four goals in one game Tuesday night! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/CXuFl5FgFq
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 29, 2021
Bedard had a natural hat-trick, pushing Canada’s lead from 3-0 to 6-0, before tying the four-goal mark in the third period.
It was the only game played after Team USA forfeited to Switzerland after two players returned positive COVID-19 tests.
The next 24 hours will be crucial for the rest of Team USA, as those players need to produce two consecutive negative tests in order to be eligible to play the next scheduled game, set for Wednesday versus Team Sweden.
Here’s who stood out on the first day of the World Juniors:
THREE STARS OF THE DAY
THIRD STAR: MASON MCTAVISH (CAN)
Mason McTavish has already seen time in the NHL, AHL and OHL this year and continued his strong play for Canada at the World Juniors by recording two goals and adding one assist on the third day at the World Juniors. He now has five points (three goals, two assists) in two games. McTavish registered his two goals only 47 seconds apart to put the Canadian team up 10-1 in the third, solidifying their victory. He also displayed the physical part of his game by throwing his weight around and winning important puck battles along the wall.
Nifty setup by Dylan Guenther (#Yotes) to set up Mason McTavish (#flytogether) to extend the lead to 9-1. #WorldJuniors https://t.co/pfQoKP3tAphttps://t.co/qfHa6DWxpT
📺: @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/fxgMxJJEIG
— Aaron Vickers (@AAVickers) December 29, 2021
SECOND STAR: COLE PERFETTI (CAN)
Cole Perfetti had another impressive three-point night (one goal, two assists), his second in as many games. His six points (one goal, five assists) through two games, pace both Canada and tournament as a whole. Perfetti helped open up the scoring by making a beautiful cross ice pass to set up Kent Johnson for a one timer on the power play. He then scored a goal in tight from a nice pass from Mavrik Bourque in the third period. Perfetti was buzzing around all game and could have added to his point lead if not for the fantastic goaltending of Leon Sommer from Austria.
Mason McTavish makes it 9-1 for Canada in the 3rd period!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/s0n4sUuhBY
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 29, 2021
FIRST STAR: CONNOR BEDARD (CAN)
Connor Bedard was the first Canadian 16-year-old to record a hat trick since Wayne Gretzky did it all the way back in 1978. Not to be outdone, Bedard then tied a Canadian record by scoring another goal in the third period on a nice tip in from a shot by Will Cuylle. His four goals in one game put him in elite company with such names as Mario Lemieux, Simon Gagne, and Brayden Schenn, amongst others. A potential highlight of the night goal from Bedard came on the power play in the second period when he made a fantastic toe drag move on one of the Austrian defenders in the high slot to then rifle a shot glove side into the top corner.
Make that four goals on the night for Connor Bedard! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/nTuUU9qnPj
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 29, 2021
Honorable Mentions: Leon Sommer (AUS), Elliot Desnoyers (CAN), Ronan Seeley (CAN)
HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT
Austrian goaltender Leon Sommer had himself a game in a 11-2 loss against a powerhouse Canadian team. Sommer kept the score relatively low considering he faced 64 shots. One in particular that stood out is when Bedard picked up a loose puck at the top of the circle and made an incredible move through his legs to deke around a defender, then fire a hard shot glove side, only to be denied by Sommer with an amazing flash of the leather that surely prevented a goal.
This is not a goal highlight, but it might end up being the highlight of the night all the way around. Connor Bedard (#2023NHLDraft) absolutely robbed here. https://t.co/UJbec1Xh0M
📺: @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/vySuvwQsZW
— Aaron Vickers (@AAVickers) December 29, 2021
Leaderboard
| RNK | NAME | POS | COUNTRY | TEAM | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 1 | Cole Perfetti | F | CAN | WPG | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 2 | Connor Bedard | F | CAN | 2023 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 3 | McTAVISH Mason | F | CAN | ANA | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 3 | Owen Power | D | CAN | BUF | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 5 | Brad Lambert | F | FIN | 2022 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 6 | Samuel Helenius | F | FIN | LAK | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 7 | Ville Koivunen | F | FIN | CAR | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 8 | Matvei Michkov | F | RUS | 2023 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | Alexander Blank | F | GER | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 10 | Mavrik Bourque | F | CAN | DAL | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | Simon Edvinsson | D | SWE | DET | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 10 | Joel Maatta | F | FIN | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 13 | Elliot Desnoyers | F | CAN | PHI | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 13 | William Eklund | F | SWE | SJS | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 13 | Helge Grans | D | SWE | LAK | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
FCHockey’s Three Stars
December 28: First: Connor Bedard (CAN); Second: Cole Perfetti (CAN); Third: Mason McTavish (CAN).
December 27: First: Jesper Wallstedt (SWE); Second: Ville Koivunen (FIN); Third: Brad Lambert (FIN).
December 26: First: Owen Power (CAN); Second: Brad Lambert (FIN); Third: Matvei Michkov (RUS).