SPORTS

Blackwood helps Canada blank Czech Republic 1-0 in world junior exhibition

The Canadian Press Published Sunday, December 20, 2015 2:06PM EST

Mitchell Marner, Mackenzie Blackwood and Dylan Strome are seen during a Canadian World Junior Hockey team practice in Toronto on December 11, 2015. (Aaron Vincent Elkaim / The Canadian Press)

Text:

IMATRA, Finland -- Mackenzie Blackwood recorded the shutout as Canada blanked the Czech Republic 1-0 on Sunday in an exhibition ahead of the world junior hockey championship.

Rourke Chartier scored the lone goal for the Canadians in the second period. Anthony Beauvillier fed Chartier with a back-door pass to give Canada a one-goal advantage.

Vitek Vanecek started in net for the Czechs.

Canada finished the game 0-for-5 on the power play with the Czech Republic going scoreless on four opportunities.

The Canadians beat Belarus 7-1 in their first exhibition game on Saturday. Canada wraps up its exhibition schedule on Wednesday against Sweden.

Canada opens the tournament against the United States on Boxing Day in Helsinki.

A total of 27 Canadian players made the trip to Finland for the three pre-competition games as Hockey Canada brass evaluates who will make the final 23-man roster for the Dec. 26-Jan. 5 tournament.