WJC Three Stars Day 1: Czechia’s Suchanek stymies high-powered Canadians

As Boxing Day rolled around, it was finally time for hockey fans to enjoy their usual tradition of ignoring their families and watching the best young hockey players on the planet at the World Junior Championship.

Unfortunately for Canadian hockey fans, the tournament got off to a shocking start, as Team Canada was upset by Czechia in the final game of the opening day.

Czechia did not look intimidated at all going up against the defending champs, scoring five goals and forcing the Canadians to make a goalie change midway through the second period.

In other action, Switzerland had an early 3-2 upset win over last year’s runner-up Finland in overtime, Sweden absolutely annihilated Austria 11-0 and the United States used a three-goal third period to shake off a scare from Latvia.

Here is a look at the top performances from the opening day of the World Juniors:

3rd Star: Isak Rosen, Sweden

In the only blowout of the day, Sweden completely dismantled Austria, with 17 different players picking up at least a point. But it was Isak Rosen who got the party started, leading the way with two goals and one assist.

Rosen scored the opening goal of the game after taking advantage of an Austrian turnover, then going in and sniping one past a stickless Thomas Pfarrmaier, who despite the score, played very well early for Austria between the pipes.

A first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2021 NHL draft, Rosen wasn’t done there, picking up the lone assist on Sweden’s second goal after throwing one on net.

For his final trick, Rosen would open the scoring in the second period, wiring a power play marker short side just 48 seconds into the start of the frame. This goal would start an avalanche of Swedish goals, the first of six in the period for the reigning bronze medalists en route to their 11-0 win.

Sweden and Rosen will face off next against Czechia on Tuesday who is fresh off its shocking upset of the Canadians.

2nd Star: Attilio Biasca, Switzerland

Before Czechia took out Canada, Switzerland had the upset of the tournament with a 3-2 overtime win over Finland.

The Swiss only have one medal in world junior championship history, a bronze back in the 1998 tournament.

The biggest goal of the tournament so far has to belong to Switzerland’s Attilio Biasca, who scored the OT winner just 41 seconds into the extra frame.

Biasca, who is playing in familiar territory as he is the captain of the Halifax Mooseheads, took a pass from defenceman Lian Bischel, then snuck one past Finnish netminder Aku Koskenvuo.

[brightcove videoID=6317815859112 playerID=JCdte3tMv height=360 width=640]

Leading his team is nothing new to the 19-year-old, as Biasca led Switzerland in scoring at the delayed 2022 tournament in August, finishing with four goals and six points. He will need to be a major factor if Switzerland wants to continue to make noise at this year’s tournament.

The Swiss will try and keep the early momentum going on Tuesday when they take on Latvia.

1st Star: Tomas Suchanek, Czechia

One could make the argument that the whole Czechia team deserved recognition in this spot after pulling off a stunning 5-2 upset over the host Canadians.

But if we had to choose just one, how could it not be Tomas Suchanek, the man who held the high-powered Canadian offence to just two goals?

Canada sports nine first-round picks, as well as both Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli who are sure to add to that count soon. The hosts also have three players on loan from their NHL teams.

But none of it phased Suchanek, and similar to his performance in the 2022 quarterfinals when Czechia upset the U.S., his play on Monday helped carry his squad to a shocking win. Maybe we should stop being so surprised.

Suchanek, 19, made 36 stops against the defending champs and refused to let them get any momentum going as they tried to mount a late comeback. The goaltender for the Tri-City Americans of the WHL also made a nice shoulder stop on Bedard’s early attempt of “The Michigan,” one of two the Canadians attempted on the night.

The Canadians didn’t help their cause, taking a number of back-breaking penalties and spending a good portion of the game on the penalty kill, but when they were even-strength, they looked dangerous. However, Suchanek was always equal to the task and was one of the main reasons Team Canada will have a couple of sleepless nights ahead.