With the Floorball World Championship and an opportunity to play at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, Team Canada and Team USA met for the opening game of the men’s WFCQ AMER.
Despite USA striking first, it was Canada who was the dominant force throughout the match.
Only eight seconds after David Hansen put Team USA on the scoreboard, Canada’s Patrick Mahoney sent the ball past USA’s goaltender.
Only moments later, team USA was charged with a hitting penalty. Canada’s powerplay unit took the floor, and Brandon Barber logged Canada’s second goal of the day.
Valtteri Viitakoski was next, extending the lead for Canada. Viitakoski’s name was called twice more before the end of the period, in the opening 20 minutes, he earned a hat trick.
With a 6-1 lead after the first period, Canada continued to control the game. Steven Friedli and Barber continued building on Canada’s goal lead, while Werner Trost added a second point to USA’s goal count.
Canada managed three more goals in the final period of play, giving them an 11-2 lead in the two game aggregate series.
Barber led the way with four goals and an assists, followed by Viitakoski with three goals and two assists.
USA will look to attack more in game two as they were outshot 17 to 53 by the Canadians.
Game two is on Sunday Feb. 18 at 1p.m. It will be streamed live on the IFF App.
