Slovakia, Germany triumph

OTTAWA – Radoslav Tybor and Ondrej Rusnak each scored two goals to help Slovakia beat Latvia 7-1 on Saturday night in the world junior hockey championship.

Marek Hrivik, Tomas Tatar and Adam Bezak also scored, and Jaroslav Janus made 15 saves in Slovakia’s first game in Group B.

Janis Straupe and Ronalds Cinks scored for Latvia (0-2).

In Group A, Germany beat Kazakhstan 9-0. Jerome Flaake scored twice, and Timo Pielmeier made 17 saves for the shutout.

The United States and Canada opened play Friday in Group A. The United States beat Germany 8-1, and Canada topped the Czech Republic, also 8-1.

Today, the United States will face the Czech Republic, and Canada will play Kazakhstan.

Drayson Bowman, Tyler Johnson and Mitch Wahl of the Spokane Chiefs play for the United States team.

Dustin Tokarski of the Chiefs plays for Canada.

In Group B play today, Russia will face Finland, and Sweden will meet Slovakia.