World Juniors Day 5 Recap: Kent Johnson steals the show for Team Canada

Mike Gould
Mike Gould
World Juniors Day 5 Recap: Kent Johnson steals the show for Team Canada
Credit: Team Canada forward Kent Johnson (13) celebrates after scoring a goal at the World Juniors. Photo credit: Hockey Canada on Twitter.

Kent Johnson wasn’t the first player to attempt “The Michigan” on Day 5 of the 2022 IIHF Men’s World Junior Championship, but the University of Michigan alum was the first to successfully pull it off.

Late in the first period against Team Czechia on Saturday, the Team Canada forward and Columbus Blue Jackets forward received the puck from Logan Stankoven behind the net before scooping it up onto his stick and flinging it past Czech goaltender Tomas Suchanek.

Johnson’s goal ultimately stood as the winner as Team Canada defeated Team Czechia by a 5–1 score.

Earlier on Day 5, Team USA forward and Arizona Coyotes prospect Logan Cooley came within inches of scoring with the same move against Team Austria.

But Johnson managed to convert on his attempt, and he wasn’t done there. The 19-year-old forward subsequently set up Tyson Foerster for a cannonading one-timer in the slot to make it 5–1 midway through the third period.

The Blue Jackets originally selected Johnson with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. The Port Moody, BC product scored three points in his first nine NHL games with Columbus last season and is one of Team Canada’s most promising young players at this tournament.

Mason McTavish scored twice for Team Canada on Saturday, with Ridly Greig also finding the back of the net. Martin Rysavy scored the lone goal for the Czechs in the loss.

Carter Mazur pots two for Pops

Team USA soundly defeated Team Austria by a 7–0 score on Day 5. The best storyline to come from the contest had to do with American forward Carter Mazur, who notched a pair of goals in front of a very special family member.

Mazur’s grandfather was in attendance — on his 87th birthday, no less — at Rogers Place on Saturday to watch the Americans take on the Austrians.

As any good grandson would, Mazur put his best foot forward with his grandpa looking on.

Mazur’s two goals came just 57 seconds apart in the second period against Team Austria.

After the 20-year-old forward sniped his second of the game, his grandfather gave a fantastic fist-pump celebration from the stands.

Typically low-scoring defenseman Wyatt Kaiser also netted a pair of goals against Team Austria and was named the player of the game (Mazur already received that award on Day 3).

Matt Coronato, Red Savage, and Sasha Pastujov also scored for Team USA in the commanding victory. Goaltender Remington Keopple made 15 saves for the shutout.

Haanelt caps it off for Team Germany

Team Germany doesn’t have nearly as many quality NHL prospects at this year’s World Juniors as in previous tournaments, but they still have a few.

Haakon Hanelt is one of them. Selected by the Washington Capitals in the fifth round (No. 151 overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, the speedy forward scored his first goal of the World Juniors against Team Switzerland on Saturday.

Hanelt is one of three NHL-affiliated prospects playing for Team Germany at this year’s tournament, along with defensemen Maksymillian Szuber (Arizona Coyotes) and Luca Munzenberger (Edmonton Oilers).

His goal ultimately went down as the winner as Team Germany eked out a 3–2 win over Team Switzerland on Day 3. The Germans now sit in third place in Group B with two wins and a loss through three games, with their final round robin game coming up against Team Sweden on Monday.

Day 5 Results

Team Austria 0, Team USA 7

Team Canada 5, Team Czechia 1

Team Germany 3, Team Switzerland 2

Day 6 Schedule

Team Finland vs. Team Slovakia — 12:00 p.m. MT/2:00 p.m. ET

Team Czechia vs. Team Latvia — 4:00 p.m. MT/6:00 p.m. ET

Team USA vs. Team Sweden — 8:00 p.m. MT/10:00 p.m. ET

Keep scrolling for more content!
19+ | Please play responsibly! | Terms and Conditions apply