OTTAWA -- Carter George couldn't have asked for a better start to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
The Thunder Bay goaltender stopped all 31 shots he faced on Thursday as he helped Canada open the tournament with a 4-0 win over Finland in Ottawa.
George, who plays for the Ontario Hockey League's Owen Sound Attack and is a prospect of the Los Angeles Kings, is the first Canadian netminder to open the tournament with a shutout since Michael DiPietro in 2018.
Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer led the way on offence with a goal and an assist. Gavin McKenna of the Medicine Hat Tigers, Easton Cowan of the London Knights and Luca Pinelli of the Ottawa 67's also found the back of the net for the tournament hosts.
For his efforts, George was named Team Canada's player of the game.
Canada returns to action at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Latvia.
