Team Canada without Sourdif for tonight’s game

The IIHF Disciplinary Panel issued a one-game suspension to Team Canada forward Justin Sourdif for an illegal check to the head/neck, it was announced Tuesday.

He therefore won’t be in uniform for tonight’s second preliminary round game against Austria. The Canadians opened the tournament on Boxing Day with an impressive 6-3 win over Czechia. In this contest, the Florida Panthers prospect delivered a late and high hit on Jiri Tichacek, which ended up getting him suspended today.

During the skate on Monday, Sourdif was the 13th forward, being replaced by Dylan Guenther on his usual spot on the third line alongside Ridly Greig and Jake Neighbours.

Team Canada will hope to shake off the suspension and focus on the positive. Owen Power tallied a hat trick in the first preliminary round game, which was also his first career game at the World Juniors. It marked the first time a blue liner scored three times for Canada in the best-on-best tournament.

As for Austria, the team loss 7-1 at the hands of Finland in their opening game of the World Juniors on Monday.