Knights duo putting speed, skill on display

OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC Liam Foudy’s speed is one of Canada’s biggest weapons at the world juniors.

So is Connor Mcmichael’s sneaky shot.

The OHL’S London Knights teammates accounted for half of Canada’s four second-period goals in Thursday’s 6-1 quarter-final victory over Slovakia. They have three markers apiece through five games and have both scored in each of the past two wins.

“They’re working hard and they’ve been scoring big goals for us,” Canada coach Dale Hunter said. “Both are smart players who have some speed. They’re doing whatever Team Canada asks them.”

Mcmichael, the OHL’S leading scorer before joining the national junior team, kept the puck on a 2-on-1 early in the second and wired it past Slovakian starter Samuel Hlavaj to give Canada a two-goal lead.

“I like to think I have a pretty deceptive shot, so I try to fool them,” the Washington Capitals first-rounder said. “I look one way and shoot the other. I saw an opening and I just shot it.”

At the midway point, Foudy used his legs to create a breakaway chance, freezing Hlavaj with a backhander to put the contest out of reach.

“I saw the goalie was off his angle a bit and saw the far side (open) and tried to beat him there,” the Columbus Blue Jackets prospect said.

No one more at home on the bigger ice than Foudy.

“He’s right up there with the fastest players our age,” teammate Jacob Bernard-docker said.

Hunter’s trust in his two Knights has been rewarded. At one point, he put them on the ice together on a 5-on-5 shift. That’s when Mcmichael scored.

“It was a big goal,” Foudy said. “It doesn’t matter who scores it, as long as we do. ”