Fraser Minten scores twice, Easton Cowan once, in Team Canada’s first tune-up game
7 months ago
On Tuesday afternoon, they took on Denmark’s u25 team, and despite being significantly younger than their opposition, they absolutely walloped them 8-.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear a lot of video exists and it’s even quite hard to find the box score. However, we know that both Toronto prospects participating in the tournament, Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan, made it onto the scoresheet.
In fact, according to Mark Masters, Minten scored twice, once on the power player, and evidently once on even strength. Minten would also pick up an assist. Moreover, Cowan’s goal, which appears to be his only point, was also on the power play.
Cowan played this game as the top line right wing, centred by Arizona draft pick Conor Geekie and Buffalo draft pick Matthew Savoie, both products of the newly formed Wenatchee Wild in the Western Hockey League. Although a natural centre, Minten was on the wing for projected first overall pick, Macklin Celebrini, and flanked by Jordan Dumais, a Columbus prospect.
With Poitras still needing to be slotted into Canada’s lineup, it seems that Cowan might have been a placeholder for the Bruin as he rests from his travel. The goal from Cowan likely makes a case for him staying in the lineup but where exactly is open for debate.
As for how their Canadian Hockey League seasons are going, Cowan, 18, had a good 2022-23 season, but is on a 1.70 point-per-game pace for the always dominant London Knights, scoring 12 goals and 39 points in 23 games. So far between the Kamloops Blazers and the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL, Minten, 19, has five goals and 15 points in 13 games after spending four games with the Leafs.
Projected first overall pick Macklin Celebrini also scored a goal and two assists. The 17-year-old has dominated college at Boston University, scoring 10 goals and 25 points in 15 games. There’s obviously no chance that the Leafs get him, but he’ll be a force in the National Hockey League for seasons to come.
Team Canada will play two more pre-season games. One against Switzerland on Friday at 9:00 AM ET, and one the following day against the United States at 12:00 PM ET. Both will be available on TSN 1 and 4.
Canada’s tournament officially kicks off on December 26, as is traditional. They’ll face Finland at 8:00 AM ET, available on TSN 1, 3, and 4.
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