(Trenčín) Canada lost 9-6 to Finland in their first game at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup on Monday.

The National Under-18 team led 3-1 after 11 minutes, but the Finns responded with three goals in the second period and four more in the third period.

“We had a dream start, scoring in the first minute, but we got a little too confident as the game went on,” assistant coach Kris Mallette said. We have lost battles and we have not been able to bet on elements that do not affect skills, such as willpower. Our group must roll up their sleeves. »

Cole Beaudoin, Maxim Massé, Justin Poirier, Berkly Catton, Henry Mews and Roger McQueen scored for Canada.

Quebec goaltender Gabriel D’Aigle gave up seven times before being replaced by Carter George midway through the third period.

“We knew Finland had a good team and we came out strong, but we had moments when we weren’t playing as a team and that cost the game,” Catton observed.

Tuomas Suoniemi led the charge for Finland with a hat trick and two assists.

Daniel Nieminen, Arttu Valila, Emil Hemming, Joona Saarelainen, Akseli Pulkkanen and Julius Miettinen also scored in the victory.

In another game early in the day, Sweden served an 11-1 correction to Germany. Later Monday, the Czech Republic will face the United States while Switzerland will face Slovakia.

The Canadians, defending champions of the tournament, will play their next match on Tuesday, against Slovakia.

“We have to play a full 60 minutes and I think we’ll be fine,” Catton said. I believe in our team. We just have to make sure we play together and play hard the whole game. »

The eight-team tournament, hosted by Czechia and Slovakia, runs until Saturday.