QUARTERFINAL: CANADA 5 CZR 3

MONTREAL – Mitchell Stephens returned from injury to score a goal and set up two more as Canada downed the Czech Republic 5-3 in a quarter-final on Monday at the world junior hockey championship.


Julien Gauthier, with two, Blake Speers and Thomas Chabot also scored for Canada, which advanced to a semifinal on Wednesday against Sweden. The Swedes downed Slovakia 8-3 in their quarter-final.


Stephens missed Canada’s last two games with an undisclosed injury, but the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect showed no ill effects in a game Canada dominated 41-19 in shots. Stephens, Chabot and Gauthier were on the Canadian team that lost in the quarter-finals of last year’s world juniors in Helsinki.


Canada routed the Czechs twice before the tournament – by a combined 8-0 – during their selection camp in Boisbriand, Que., three weeks ago and 5-0 in an exhibition game in Ottawa on Dec. 21.


Defenceman Philippe Myers, who suffered a concussion in the final preliminary round game against the U.S., did not play. His spot on a pair with Thomas Chabot was taken by Kale Clague.


(CP)