Short-handed Canada hammers Norway

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Brayden Schenn!

The Canadian junior superman has been faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound at the 2011 world junior hockey championship this week.

His dominant play continued in Canada’s 10-1 thumping of Norway before 17,061 pleased fans at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y., on Wednesday. Yes, it was only Norway, but Schenn’s four-goal, five-point game was a much-needed effort considering that Canada was without four players due to injury and suspension.

But even though Schenn tied Mario Lemieux's and Simon Gagne’s Canadian junior record for four goals in a game, he wasn’t selected as the player of the game.

For some inexplicable reason, tournament organizers bestowed that honour on Canadian defenceman Erik Gudbranson.

The Kingston Frontenacs blue-liner did score twice, but it was an awkward moment when the Canadian fans booed the decision.

"I guess that happens, but it’s a little disappointing. Schenner did have a good game, too," said Gudbranson, who now has three goals in the tournament, the same number he has in 21 games with the Frontenacs this season.

The rest of the Canadian players were giving it to Schenn as they stood on the blue-line when the announcement was made. His teammates had also snickered on the bench when Schenn pushed his way past linemate Quinton Howden to poke in his fourth goal with three minutes and 25 seconds remaining in the game.

"I guess I owe him one," confessed Schenn, who also was asked about matching the Lemieux and Gagne record. "That’s pretty good company."

Used sparingly in L.A.

It seems preposterous now, but there was some concern about Schenn and how effective he would be in this event because of his lack of playing time this season.

Schenn, one of four returnees on the Canadian team, made the Los Angeles Kings out of training camp but was used sparingly in only eight games.

He played seven more with the Manchester Monarchs during a conditioning stint in the AHL and had two additional outings with the Brandon Wheat Kings when he was returned to junior by Los Angeles earlier this month.

Then Schenn was off to the Canadian team selection camp. But he swiftly gained his confidence, as evident by his six goals and 12 points in three games, which is six points shy of Dale McCourt’s Canadian record, set in the 1977 tournament.

"If it happens, it happens," he said. "We have some tough games coming up now. I’ve got my legs under me now and my speed is back."

And, thanks to the large Canadian contingent in the crowd, he has the HSBC Arena public address announcer saying his name right. Early in the game, he pronounced Schenn’s name "Sheen." The crowd corrected the announcer by chanting "Schenn, Schenn, Schenn."

"That just shows you that there are a lot of Toronto Maple Leafs fans here," said Schenn, whose older brother Luke plays for the Maple Leafs.

Undermanned but overwhelming

A player shortage failed to prevent the powerhouse Canadians from beating up on Norway.

Canada knew it would be without suspended forward Zack Kassian and injured players Calvin de Haan and Jaden Schwartz, but forward Cody Eakin tweaked a left-hand injury in warmup and also sat out his team's victory.

The 19-year-old Eakin from Winnipeg had blocked a shot in Canada's 7-2 win over the Czech Republic on Tuesday and he just didn't feel right after the pre-game skate.

Eakin, de Haan and Schwartz — the latter two are nursing undisclosed leg ailments — now have an extra day to recover before Canada's final preliminary-round game on New Year's Eve, Friday.

Kassian will miss the Sweden game. He was nailed for a two-game suspension for his high hit on Czech defenceman Petr Senkerik, who was knocked unconscious and suffered a mild concussion.

So without Kassian and Co., Canadian head coach Dave Cameron had nine forwards and six defencemen for his use.

Cameron would not speculate on who would be available for Friday’s game, but did admit that a day off has come at the right time.

A win over Sweden would be a bonus, too, because that would give Canada two more days off and an automatic spot in the semifinals Monday.

Ellis sets record

With his representative Bobby Orr in attendance, Canadian captain Ryan Ellis picked up three assists to pass Finnish standout Reijo Ruotsalainen as the highest-scoring defenceman in world junior tournament history.

Ruotsalainen played in the first four world junior tournaments between 1977 and 1980 and checked in with nine goals and 22 points in 24 games. The 19-year-old Ellis from Freelton, Ont., has four goals and 23 points in 15 games, including two goals and eight points in three games in Buffalo.

Up next

Canada's next opponent, Sweden, also has a key player in Gabriel Landeskog out with an injury. The Kitchener Rangers forward has a high ankle sprain.

There have been conflicting reports as to whether Landeskog, likely a top-five pick for the 2011 NHL entry draft, is out for the tournament or could return for the medal round.

Sweden, by the way, beat Norway 7-1 on Sunday. But the Swedes were dumped 4-1 by Canada in an exhibition game on Dec. 21 in Toronto.

While Canada has Thursday off, Sweden plays the Czech Republic at Niagara University's Dwyer Arena.

Oh brother

Luke Schenn won a gold medal with the 2008 Canadian junior team. If his younger brother can duplicate the feat next week, they would become the third Canadian brother act to win gold medals.

The last pair was Scott Niedermayer in 1991 and his younger sibling Rob two years later. Mike and Randy Moller are the only brothers to win gold on the same team, in 1982.

Backup plays

Canadian backup goalie Mark Visintin of Waterdown, Ont., saw his first action of the tournament. He was busy in the first period with 15 saves and wound up making 31 saves in total.

Olivier Roy, who stopped 41 of 47 shots in wins over Russia and the Czech Republic, is expected to return to action against Sweden.