WJC REPORT: Canada & Finland prevail

by Marc Ciampa / Edmonton Oilers

Brett Connolly #28, Casey Cizikas #11 and Oilers prospect Curtis Hamilton #16 of Canada celebrate Cizikas' goal in the first period against Norway during the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship game between the Canada and Norway at the HSBC Arena on December 29, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

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Five Oilers prospects are taking part in the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships in Buffalo, New York. We are providing daily reports and starting Friday we will be on location to provide video, written features and more through to the end of the tournament.

It was a light day for the World Juniors schedule with only two games on the day - both involving Oilers prospects.

First up was Finland taking on Germany in the early afternoon. After a close opening period which saw Finland get by with a 1-0 lead on a goal assisted by OIlers prospect Toni Rajala, the Finns added three more in the second to take a commanding 4-0 advantage. Both sides traded goals in the third to make it a 5-1 final, in favour of Finland.

Rajala had an even rating with a shot on goal in addition to his assist. Rajala's three points in the tournament so far put him in a tie for ninth among tournament scoring and a tie for third among tournament leaders in assists.

Team Canada, meanwhile, laid a beating on Norway by a 10-1 score in the late game on Wednesday. Oilers prospect Curtis Hamilton had one shot on goal and was +1 in the victory. He was on the ice for Canada's opening goal as Casey Cizikas scored 2:01 in.

There are four games on the World Junior sched on Thursday with only one involving an Oilers prospect. Sweden, along with Anton Lander, will face the Czech Republic at 1:00 p.m. MST.

Slovakia plays Switzerland but Oilers prospect Martin Marincin will be sitting out his first of four games for a hit on USA's Jason Zucker last game. Marincin will be out for the rest of the tournament unless his team can get into the Final.