With spectators finally allowed without Covid restrictions, opening day of the Hippodrome 3R 40-day race meet on Sunday (May 1) featured a strong crowd of race fans enjoying the live harness racing and sunny skies.
CANADA 2020 WJC: Gold - defeated Russia 4-3 in final Returning players: 6 NHL draft picks: 24 / 25 (20 in first round, 7 in top 10) As usual, Canada enters the World Juniors as among the tournament favourites, but this year’s group is being hailed as among the country s best in a generation. The team boasts top talent across the board with 20 first rounders and multiple players who likely would be playing in the NHL if not for the pandemic. Both the blue line and forwards groups are loaded with talent. Anything less than a gold medal will be a disappointment.
PLAYER TO WATCH - Dylan Cozens
World Junior Championship Group A preview
Canada s forward depth fuels repeat bid; Finland will rely on defense by Adam Kimelman @NHLAdamK / NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
Canada s deep, versatile group of forwards could make it the favorite to win the IIHF World Junior Championship for the second straight year.
That depth will be important after forward Kirby Dach, their captain and a Chicago Blackhawks forward, injured his right wrist during a pre-tournament game against Russia on Wednesday and will not play in the tournament.
Even without Dach, Canada s remaining 13 forwards each is a first-round NHL draft pick. That includes four players who returning from the 2020 WJC championship team: Quinton Byfield (Los Angeles Kings), Dylan Cozens (Buffalo Sabres), Connor McMichael (Washington Capitals) and Dawson Mer