photo: Matt Zambonin/IIHF
Canada scored three goals in the first period, including a laser one-timer from newly-minted captain Macklin Celebrini, and cruised to a 6-0 win over Italy this afternoon in Fribourg.
Celebrini later added another superb goal and an assist to make it a three-point game for the 19-year-old.
"I thought it was a good game for us," said Ryan O'Reilly, one of the goalscorers for Canada. "Each game we're getting more comfortable within our system. Obviously Sweden and Italy are different teams, but they played hard. We did a lot of good things, so we can build on those."
The win is the second in as many days for Canada, which now has a day off before facing Denmark on Monday. This was Italy’s first game, but they’re back at it tomorrow afternoon against Slovakia. The Italians played at the Milan Olympics as hosts but haven’t played in the top pool of the World Championship since 2022.
"I thought we played well," offered Phil Pietroniro of Italy. "We gave up too any goals, but overall we did well for all the new guys we had in the lineup. It's a different team than what we had at the Olympics, but we're going to make it work. It's a long tournament, so we have to make sure we improve every game. That's the main goal. But, any time we get a chance to play against them, it's fun. We want to show that we can compete and stay with them. We have a lot to be proud of today."
"Everyone here is so skilled, so you get you'd to them pretty quickly, especially through the coaching staff," O'Reilly added. "They've been amazing in getting us prepared. It doesn't matter who we play, we're trying to grow our game and work within our structure, so that when we get to the quarters, we're dialled in."
Canada dominated from the drop of the puck, but it took them until midway through the first to open the scoring. Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, captain back in 2024, found Dylan Holloway in front, and he whacked the puck over the glove of Davide Fadani at 9:21.
Less than a minute later, Connor Brown’s shot went off Fadani’s glove, and Fraser Minten was right there to push the puck over the goal line. Minten, formerly of Tavares's Leafs, was traded to Boston in the ill-fated Brandon Carlo deal.
The 19-year-old Celebrini electrified the fans later in the period when Porter Martone fed him a cross-ice pass that Celebrini tore into. The puck went in and out and rolled to Celebrini’s skates before Fadani knew what had happened.
Celebrini was at it again early in the second when he got to a loose puck and rifled a wicked backhand top shelf at 2:09 to make it a 4-0 game. The Canadians continued to dominate, allowing Italy precious little puck time. Late in the second, the underdogs thought they had scored when a Phil Pietorniro shot beat Cam Talbot. But video review revealed clear goalie interference and Matt Bradley went to the penalty box for two minutes.
Actually, he was in the box for nine seconds. That’s how long it took for Crosby to feed Evan Bouchard in the slot and for Bouchard to drill a high shot over Fadani’s glove at 18:14. Just 25 seconds later, the Canadians made it 6-0 when Ryan O’Reilly converted a pass from Tavares in front.
Celebrini later added another superb goal and an assist to make it a three-point game for the 19-year-old.
"I thought it was a good game for us," said Ryan O'Reilly, one of the goalscorers for Canada. "Each game we're getting more comfortable within our system. Obviously Sweden and Italy are different teams, but they played hard. We did a lot of good things, so we can build on those."
The win is the second in as many days for Canada, which now has a day off before facing Denmark on Monday. This was Italy’s first game, but they’re back at it tomorrow afternoon against Slovakia. The Italians played at the Milan Olympics as hosts but haven’t played in the top pool of the World Championship since 2022.
"I thought we played well," offered Phil Pietroniro of Italy. "We gave up too any goals, but overall we did well for all the new guys we had in the lineup. It's a different team than what we had at the Olympics, but we're going to make it work. It's a long tournament, so we have to make sure we improve every game. That's the main goal. But, any time we get a chance to play against them, it's fun. We want to show that we can compete and stay with them. We have a lot to be proud of today."
"Everyone here is so skilled, so you get you'd to them pretty quickly, especially through the coaching staff," O'Reilly added. "They've been amazing in getting us prepared. It doesn't matter who we play, we're trying to grow our game and work within our structure, so that when we get to the quarters, we're dialled in."
Canada dominated from the drop of the puck, but it took them until midway through the first to open the scoring. Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, captain back in 2024, found Dylan Holloway in front, and he whacked the puck over the glove of Davide Fadani at 9:21.
Less than a minute later, Connor Brown’s shot went off Fadani’s glove, and Fraser Minten was right there to push the puck over the goal line. Minten, formerly of Tavares's Leafs, was traded to Boston in the ill-fated Brandon Carlo deal.
The 19-year-old Celebrini electrified the fans later in the period when Porter Martone fed him a cross-ice pass that Celebrini tore into. The puck went in and out and rolled to Celebrini’s skates before Fadani knew what had happened.
Celebrini was at it again early in the second when he got to a loose puck and rifled a wicked backhand top shelf at 2:09 to make it a 4-0 game. The Canadians continued to dominate, allowing Italy precious little puck time. Late in the second, the underdogs thought they had scored when a Phil Pietorniro shot beat Cam Talbot. But video review revealed clear goalie interference and Matt Bradley went to the penalty box for two minutes.
Actually, he was in the box for nine seconds. That’s how long it took for Crosby to feed Evan Bouchard in the slot and for Bouchard to drill a high shot over Fadani’s glove at 18:14. Just 25 seconds later, the Canadians made it 6-0 when Ryan O’Reilly converted a pass from Tavares in front.
Italy vs Canada - 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship
OF