December 26, 2012

Canada's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (center L) celebrates his goal with team mates Dougie Hamilton (L), Jonathan Huberdeau (front), Scott Harrington (2nd R), and J.C. Lipon (R) against Germany in the first period of their preliminary round game during the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, Dec. 26, 2012. (REUTERS/Mark Blinch)

UFA, RUSSIA - In another time, in what would have been close to about halfway around the world, Mark Scheifele and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would probably have been playing against each other Wednesday.

Instead, the pair were united on Team Canada’s top line - along with Jonathan Huberdeau – and the trio produced nine points in Canada’s 9-3 victory over Germany in their opening game of the world junior championship.

One of the good things about the NHL lockout is it has afforded Nugent-Hopkins and Scheifele another shot at a gold medal and, yes it was “just” the Germans, but the pair got Canada’s offence off to a good start.