May 5, 2002
Jonkoping, Sweden

Czech Republic had a 5-1 win over Canada, 3 time defending champion, at the world hockey championships Sunday.

Rotislav Klesla, Pavel Patera, Jan Hrdina and Peter Cajanek also scored for the Czechs, who remained perfect after six games and finished first in their qualifying group. They'll face Russia in the quarter-finals Tuesday.

Steve Staios of the Edmonton Oilers had the lone goal for Team Canada (5-1-0), which finished second in its qualifying group and will probably play Slovakia in its quarter-final Tuesday, unless the Slovaks beat Russia by four or more goals on Monday night. If that occurs, Canada would play Finland, which was beat 4-2 by Sweden on Sunday.

Staios made things interesting when he cut the lead to 2-1 just 2:05 in the third period, chipping a shot from the slot over Milan Hnlicka's right shoulder and quieting a pro-Czech crowd of over 5,000 at Kinnarps Arena.

Patera and Klesla added goals against Giguere to further add insult to injury. The Czechs are the fastest skating team in the championship and they gave the Canadians fits all night long, seemingly always a step ahead of the play and first to the puck.

Canada was fortunate to only be down 2-0 after being outshot 17-5 in the second period and thoroughly outplayed. Turco, making his third start of the tournament, was outstanding in the second, taking away sure goals from the Czech onslaught.

Cajanek opened the scoring on a broken play 5:37 into the first, picking up a loose puck in the slot that hit a pair of players and skating in alone on Turco, splitting his pads with a deke and slipping it into the five-hole for a 1-0 lead.

Hrdina made it 2-0 just over five minutes later, his wrist shot from the high slot beating Turco stick side. Jagr was key on the play, attracting both Canadian defenders to him in the corner, leaving Hrdina alone in front after taking a pass from Jaroslav Hlinka.
The Czechs outshot Canada 34-21.

In other Group E action today, the United States and Germany battled to a 2-2 draw, and, in a matchup of cellar-dwellers, Switzerland defeated Latvia for their only win of the qualification round.

In the lone Group F game today, Sweden came from behind to beat Finland by the score of 4-2 and finish atop the standings in the group.

On Monday, Russia faces Slovakia and Austria plays the Ukraine to complete the qualification round. Notes: Team Canada practises in Jonkoping at 12:30 local time Monday before returning to Karlstad in late afternoon. The semifinals and final are Thursday and Saturday in Goteborg . . . Defenceman Darryl Sydor of the Stars watched Sunday's game from the stands. He's eligible to play his first game Tuesday in the quarter-final. Sydor played in an exhibition game against Sweden on April 24 but had to return home after the passing of his father-in-law.