Czech Republic stuns Canada in men's world juniors opener

Jaroslav Chemeler and Matous Mensik scored 33 seconds apart during a five-minute power play as Czech Republic stunned Canada 5-2 in the opener for both countries at the world junior men's hockey championship Monday.

Stanislav Svozil and David Spacek, with a goal and an assist each, and David Moravec provided the rest of the offence for underdog Czech Republic.

Tomas Suchanek was stellar in making 36 saves behind a structured, determined group.

Shane Wright, with a goal and an assist, and Connor Bedard replied for Canada. Benjamin Gaudreau allowed five goals on 17 shots before being replaced by Thomas Milic in the second period. Milic finished with 10 saves for the suddenly wobbly tournament favourites who lost to the Czechs for the first time in 3,285 days.

Sweden hammered Austria 11-0 in Group A's other game.

Looking for its 20th gold medal after winning on home soil in Edmonton this past summer, Canada suffered just its second loss in 24 meetings with the Czechs at the men's under-20 showcase since 1994, with the only other defeat coming in a shootout in the 2013 preliminary round.

Down 3-2 in the second period Monday, Canada crumbled after forward Zach Dean was assessed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head.

With Dean taking an early shower, Chemeler banged home a loose puck from Gaudreau's doorstep at 8:14 before Mensik fired from a sharp angle moments later to end a netminder's forgettable night.

Canada pushed as the period wore on, but Suchanek was there to deny Brennan Othmann on a frantic power play before Wright hit the post late in the period.

The Canadians got a power play early in the third, but were unable to connect, and the quietly confident Czechs kept their cool from there to secure an