Jake Virtanen showed Thursday why Hockey Canada wanted him for the national under-18 team.
The 17-year-old Calgary Hitmen forward, scored two goals Thursday to lead Team Canada to a 3-1 win over Sweden in their opening game at the world under-18 championship in Imatra, Finland.
Muzito Baganda cut the lead in half with a power-play goal for Sweden in the second period but Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds) restored the two-goal cushion 3:07 into the third period.
Mason McDonald (Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL) made 24 saves in the Team Canada nets.
Earlier this week the Kevin Dineen-coached Canadian team added two 18-year-old Brandon Wheat King forwards, Jaycee Hawryluk and John Quenelle.
The Wheat Kings were eliminated from the HL playoffs by the Edmonton Oil Kings last Friday.
That bumped 17-year-old Prince George Cougars forward Janise Harkens from the Team Canada roster and he was cut from the team.
Canada plays Germany on Saturday.
