Gabriel Bourque scored 36 seconds into the game and Canada never looked back as they laid a 16-0 beating on Latvia in their opening game at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Saskatoon.
Bourque finished the game with three goals and four assists to tie a Canadian record for points in a game that is shared by Mike Cammalleri and Dave Andreychuk.
Moose Jaw Warriors’ defenceman Travis Hamonic scored his first goal of the tournament — and Canada’s seventh — with a wrist shot from the high slot in the second period. He also added an assist.
Jordan Eberle, Patrice Cormier, Brandon Kozun, Luke Adam and Nazem Kadri each scored twice, while Adam Henrique and Brandon McMillan scored once each. Alex Pietrangelo had four assists for Canada.
The Canadians were 6-for-8 on the power play.
Jake Allen earned the shutout.
Canada out-shot Latvia 66-10 and will face Switzerland Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon.
