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UNB’s Keating, Gilmour, and McCormick power Canada to 8-2 win over Japan

U SPORTS Staff

UNB’s trio of Austen Keating, Brady Gilmour, and Adam McCormick combined for four goals and six points as Canada beat an impressive Team Japan 8-2 on Sunday, January 15th, 2023 at the 2023 FISU World University Games.

In the first period, Team Japan came out looking to utilize their team speed by eyeing transition opportunities through the neutral zone. The underdogs did earn some good looks, but SMU goaltender Matt Welsh did well to turn those away. At the other end, Canada’s forecheck and puck pressure proved to be the difference.

At the 12:40 mark, Matthew Struthers beat Japanese netminder Toshiki Nakamura on a great goalmouth feed from Calgary’s Noah King, opening the scoring. Five minutes later, on the man advantage, UNB’s Austen Keating tapped one in backdoor off a pass from Queen’s University’s Jonathan Yantsis.

 

The scoring continued as Adam McCormick blasted in his first of the tournament at the 2:13 mark before Brett Davis buried from the slot on the powerplay to make it 4-0 after one period.

“I really liked our start,” said McCormick, postgame. “Our first period was dominant. We had lots of shots again, and our defensive game was good. We were feeling good.”

In the second, alternate captain Zachary Lavigne of UQTR got things going 27 seconds into the frame, making it 5-0. Four minutes later, UNB veteran forward Brady Gilmour got his first of the tournament, off a pass from Concordia Stinger Tyler Hylland.

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The rest of the period was predominantly spent in Japan’s defensive zone, but Nakamura did well to hold the fort. After 40 minutes, Canada held a 6-0 lead on a 33-13 edge in shots on goal.

Canada seemed to let its foot off the gas in the third period, as Japan was able to create some opportunities around Welsh. Yuki Kamada and Junya Owa both scored late in the game off Canadian turnovers, a development Team Canada wasn’t pleased with in post-game interviews.

“They came out strong from the get-go. I give them credit. Their forecheck was there,” said McCormick of Japan’s effort. “Lots of speed, lots of skill. We knew that from the pre-scout coming in.”

 

Canada would get goals in the third period from Yantsis and TMU’s Kyle Bollers, securing the 8-2 victory to move to 3-0 on the tournament. “Gibby is on me because Paq (Queen’s teammate Jacob Paquette) scored before I did."

"It was a relief. A couple of the guys have been in my ear a little bit,” said Yantsis, poking fun at his first goal of the tournament."

Through three games, every skater on the Canadian roster had hit the scoresheet, showing the depth of the team assembled by the Canada staff.

Matt Welsh stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced in his first start of the tournament.

Canada will now get Monday off before taking on Latvia on Tuesday, January 17th in Canton, New York.

View the game summary.