Team Canada 5 Czech Republic 0

It was a chance to shine for 2012 draft eligible goaltender Malcolm Subban as he stopped all 26 shots he faced in leading Team Canada to victory over the Czech Republic in their opening match at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Champioships in Germany. Subban is the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens defenseman P K Subban.

Eric Locke got Canada on the board just 1:10 into the game when he converted on a set up from Ryan Murphy and Alan Quine. Just 2:34 later, Morgan Rielly would put Canada up 2-0 when he was set up by Quine and Mark McNeil.

At 14:28 of the opening period, Ryan Murray and Ryan Murphy would set up Mark Scheifele on the powerplay to put the Canadians up 3-0. You have to wonder what goes through opposition teams minds when the are on the penalty kill and two quarter backs are coming at you in Murray and Murphy.

Bruins fans have a saying when Tuukka Rask starts in goal for Team Canada : Two U's, Two K's = 2 points. Well, I figured we needed one for Murray and Murphy on the Team Canada powerplay, so I'll coin this phrase: Two R's, Two M's = Too Easy !

The teams skated to a scoreless second period. But in the third Locke and Daniel Catenacci would set up Scheifele for his second goal of the game to put Canada up 4-0.

At 14:33 of the period and on the powerplay Two R's, Two M's = Too easy were at it again. Murray set up Murphy to cap off the scoring and make the final 5-0.

After the game Coach Mike Williamson not only commended the two star defensemen on their offensive game but also their defensive game, specifically "negating chances and blocking shots".

The OHL's Matej Machovsky was in goal for the Czech Republic and he faced 29 shots.

Matej Machovsky and Garret Sparks

Matej Machovsky - Guelph Storm
6'2 - 187 lbs

Garret Sparks - Guelph Storm
6'2 - 204 lbs






Teams don't normally carry three goaltenders, but with the experienced Brandon Foote leading the way for the Storm, a difficult decission has to made regarding the two highly toughted goaltenders backing up Foote.

When coach and GM Jason Brooks was asked if carrying three goaltenders was a workable option, he replied " I don't know. I'm Hoping so." Brooks added “They both know they’re battling to be the back up. At the same time, Brandon Foote knows he’s got two good goalies battling for playing time behind him.”

Machovsky has played for the Czech Republic's under 18 team. He also played for his country in a 5 nations under 17 tournament where he showed excellent technical ability and lightning fast reflexes. Just like team mate Andrei Paden was told by the Russians, Machovsky said that he was told by the Czech Republic that if he chose the OHL, he would never play for the Czech National Junior Team.

Sparks was an eighth-round pick of the Storm in the 2009 OHL Priority Draft. Last season he backstopped the Chicago Mission to the the U.S. under-18 national championship. On the season he had a 19-7-0-3 record, the 17 year old put up a 1.98 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.

Sparks is also technically sound. He positions himself well and has good rebound control. Both are big at 6'2" but Sparks is almost 20 pounds heavier.

It should be interesting to see how the Storm handle this situation, but one thing is for certain: Barring a trade, the Storm will be set in goal for the next couple of years.