2018-19 National Men's U18 Team

NEWHOOK LEADS CANADA PAST BELARUS IN U18 WARM-UP

JASON LA ROSE

VÄNNÄS, Sweden – Alex Newhook (St. John’s, N.L./Victoria, BCHL) finished his hat trick 45 seconds into overtime, giving Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team a come-from-behind 6-5 win over Belarus in its first pre-tournament game Sunday ahead of the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Trailing 5-3 after two periods, the Canadians scored twice in the final eight minutes to force the extra period.

Michael Vukojevic (Oakville, Ont./Kitchener, OHL), Peyton Krebs (Okotoks, Alta./Winnipeg, WHL) and Keean Washkurak (Waterloo, Ont./Mississauga, OHL) had the other Canadian goals, while Dylan Cozens (Whitehorse, Y.T./Lethbridge, WHL) added three assists.

Vukojevic had the lone goal of the first period before the teams combined for a wild, seven-goal second.

After Sergei Kuznetsov got Belarus even just 46 seconds into the middle frame, Krebs and Newhook counted to restore the Canadian advantage. But the European side exploded for four goals in just under five minutes in the latter half of the period, sending Canada to the dressing room down 5-3.

Newhook got the Canadians back within one with a power-play goal at 12:40 of the third, and Washkurak brought them all the way back with 4:03 to go, setting up Newhook’s overtime heroics.

Jonathan Lemieux (Beloeil, Que./Val-d’Or, QMJHL) got the start in the Canadian goal, allowing five goals in 16 shots in two periods of work. Dylan Garand (Victoria, B.C./Kamloops, WHL) earned the win after making nine saves in the third period and overtime.

Canada is back on the ice Monday to wrap up its pre-tournament schedule, taking on Russia (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT). It opens the world championship Thursday against Finland (1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT)