Prague--Canada kept their perfect record at the ice hockey world championships as they swept Austria in the last group game on Tuesday to face Belarus in Thursday's quarter-finals in Prague.
The United States won Group B and will play Switzerland in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava on Thursday, while defending champions Russia will take on Sweden in Ostrava and Finland will face the hosts Czech Republic in Prague.
Dallas forward Jason Spezza and Colorado forward Matt Duchene had two goals and two assists each as Canada humiliated Austria 10-1 in Group A, outshooting the minnows 46-15.
Tyson Barrie, Duchene, Taylor Hall and Aaron Ekblad put Canada 4-0 ahead in the first period and Spezza and Jordan Eberle made it 6-0 by the second intermission.
Dominique Heinrich scored for Austria early in the final period, but Nathan MacKinnon, Spezza, Brayden Schenn and Duchene rounded off the scoring.
Canada have advanced to the quarter-finals with seven wins from as many games and an impressive goal difference of 35.
"It is nice to finish first in the group but it really doesn't mean much," Spezza said.
"We're here to win the gold medal and we have to start with winning our next game."
Belarus earned a spot in the quarter-finals after beating Norway 3-2 in a Group B game on Tuesday.
AFP
