Mark Stone has a reputation in the Western Hockey League for throwing his body around and crashing the net any chance he gets.
Switzerland's junior national team learned this quickly on Thursday at the Enmax Centrium as Stone and Team Canada dominated the space in front of Swiss goalie Tim Wolf, muscling out a 7-1 victory in pre-competition action ahead of the 2012 IIHF world junior hockey championship.
Stone, the Western Hockey League's scoring leader, led the way by notching his second goal in as many exhibition games and adding two assists.
Devante Smith-Pelly also hounded the Swiss netminder, chipping in with a pair of goals and physically dominating his crease.
Freddie Hamilton, Boone Jenner, Tanner Pearson and Ryan Strome scored single goals for Canada.
Jonathan Huberdeau and Quinton Howden, one of four veterans from the 2011 world junior silver-medallist squad, both suited up for the first time after being sidelined with injuries.
“It was good and fun,” said Quinton Howden about getting back into game action. “It’s been awhile since I’ve played a game at that pace, so it was a lot of fun to be out there with the boys.
“I felt good, obviously, I wasn’t going to come back if I wasn’t confident. I took a few bumps here and there and it definitely boosted my confidence. I am feeling good.”
Howden started the game on the third line with Montreal Canadiens draft picks Michael Bournival and Brendan Gallagher and also saw action on both the power play and penalty kill units for Team Canada.
“I feel good about it. I am excited,” he said. “For me, its just an honour to be here again. This is one of the biggest events in the world and just to be here is a great opportunity for me and I’m looking to get things underway."
-With files from the Canadian Press
For more on this story, read Friday's Times-Herald.
