Martone picks up hat trick in win over Switzerland

Porter Martone scored a hat trick as Canada fired seven second-period goals on the way to an 8-1 win over Switzerland to stay undefeat- ed at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship on Sunday in Van- taa, Finland. Martone, a Peterbor- ough native, Mississauga Steel- heads forward and Canada’s cap- tain, also had three assists in Fri- day’s 6-0 win over Czechia. Gavin McKenna (from Whitehorse, Yukon, who plays for Medicine Hat in the Western Hockey League) scored his team-leading fourth goal and added a pair of assists. He sits tied with Martone with eight points through three games. Kashawn Aitcheson (from Toronto; Barrie, Ontario Hockey League) started Canada’s comeback, scoring 10 seconds after Switzerland opened the scoring. Ryder Ritchie (from Kelowna, B.C.; Prince Albert, WHL) added a goal and an assist. Tij Iginla (from Lake Country, B.C.; Kelowna, WHL) and Marek Vanacker (from Delhi, Ont.; Brantford, OHL) rounded out the scoring. Jett Lu- chanko (from London, Ont.; Guelph, OHL) chipped in a pair of assists. Cole Beaudoin (from Kana- ta, Ont.; Barrie, OHL), Harrison Brunicke (from Calgary; Kamloops, WHL), Caleb Desnoyers (from Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.; Moncton, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League), Ollie Josephson (from Victoria; Red Deer, WHL), Maxim Massé (from Rimouski, Que.; Chi- coutimi, QMJHL), Matthew Schaefer (from Stoney Creek; Erie, OHL) and Malcolm Spence (from Mississauga; Erie, OHL) added an assist each. Goalie Ryerson Leenders (from Nanticoke, Ont; Mississauga, OHL) earned his first start and turned aside 26 of 27 shots, including all 15 he faced in the first period. Canada outshot Switzerland by a 34-27 count. Canada faces Kazakhstan on Tuesday at noon ET.