All three Ducks prospects helped Canada to a berth in the World Junior Championship gold medal game tomorrow (5 pm PT on NHL Network) with a 5-2 win over Czechia.
Mason McTavish scored his tournament-leading eighth goal and 15th point. He moved into a tie for fifth in goals and tied for seventh in points among Canada’s all-time single tournament leaders. Only four players all-time have scored more goals than McTavish in a single WJC, while his eight goals are currently tied with Wayne Gretzky, Jonathan Tavares (1978), Brayden Schenn (2011), Jordan Eberle (2010), Eric Daze (1995). ), Adam Creighton (1985) and Dylan Cozens (2021). McTavish enters tomorrow’s gold medal game two goals (10) and three points (18) shy of tying Canada’s all-time single tournament records for goals and scoring.
Olen Zellweger recorded three assists (0-3=3) for the second straight elimination game to now lead all tournament defensemen in points (2-8=10) and assists. He became the sixth Canadian defenseman to record 10 points in a single WJC, now tied for third in points among all-time Canadian blueliners in a single tournament. Only two Canadian defensemen have scored more points than Zellweger in a single tournament, including Alex Pietrangelo (12 in 2010) and Brian McCabe (12 in 1995). His eight assists rank tied for fourth all-time among Canadian defensemen, one shy of the record nine set by Pietrangelo, McCabe and Carlo Colaiacovo (2003).
Nathan Gaucher earned his first assist of the tournament and second point (1-1=2) after scoring a goal Wednesday in the Quarterfinals vs. Switzerland.
Both McTavish and Zellweger were selected as the top three players for Canada in the entire tournament.