An injury forced Connor Zary to play top-line centre for Team Canada today and the Kamloops Blazers forward looked right at home, potting a goal and an assist in a 7-4 win over Switzerland.
After Ryan Suzuki was helped off the ice in yesterday's 5-3 win over Finland, Zary filled his spot on a line between Jamieson Rees of the Sarnia Sting and Brayden Tracey of the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Tracey finished the game with three points, potting two goals and notching an assist, while Rees had a pair of assists.
Zary opened the scoring for Canada just under four minutes into the game. Then he set up Tracey for a 2-0 lead.
Brayden Tracey, Jamieson Rees, and Connor Zary are on ? @HC_Men!@blazerhockey @StingHockey @MJWARRIORS pic.twitter.com/3jmIdZt1tF
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 19, 2019
Canada took their foot off the gas in the second period, allowing Switzerland to tie the game at three-all. But Peyton Krebs gave Canada a 4-3 lead late in the frame and three more third-period goals lifted them to 2-0 in the tournament.
Zary: We regrouped for win over Swiss after 'taking it easy.' WATCH: https://t.co/OHcSQc8Puw pic.twitter.com/IBxEuavqsT
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 19, 2019
Thomas Harley, Dylan Cozens and Dylan Holloway also scored for the Canadians.
Canada plays Belarus next on Sunday (April 21).
The preliminary round continues through Tuesday. The playoffs begin Thursday and medal games are set for April 28.
– with files from the Canadian Press