Mason McTavish ties Canadian World Juniors record with four goals in rout of Slovakia

Mason McTavish probably would like to face Slovakia in every game at the World Junior Championship.

The Ducks prospect lit the lamp four times in Canada’s 11-1 win over the Slovaks on Thursday night, tying the Canadian single-game WJC record. 

After dishing out two assists in the first period, McTavish recorded a natural hat trick in the second, scoring Canada’s sixth, seventh and eighth goals of the night. He added No. 4 in the third period for good measure. 

🚨 MASON MCTAVISH ties the @HockeyCanada record for most goals in 1 game at the #WorldJuniors! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/zJ129owWfy

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 12, 2022

McTavish and his linemates took advantage of breakdowns by Slovakia’s defense. His first goal came on a breakaway that really was a 4-on-0 for Canada after a Slovakia turnover at Canada’s blue line. 

MASON MCTAVISH! 🚨🚨🚨

HUGE breakaway puts @HockeyCanada up 6-0 over @HockeySlovakia #SVKCAN #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/sCZKt0OCeu

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 11, 2022

He followed that up with a slick backhand goal off a drop pass from Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann, and then completed the hat trick on a 2-on-0 with Joshua Roy. 

McTavish roofs a backhand for his second of the game to extend Canada’s lead 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/0I5oAKPaHB

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

Mason McTavish Hat-Trick Alert 🎩🎩🎩

He finishes a 2-on-0 with Joshua Roy to give Canada an 8-1 lead late in the 2nd period.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/EXmKM31Ed1

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

McTavish, the No. 3 overall selection in pick from the 2021 draft, was all over the ice. He showcased his superb passing ability, as well as his exceptional shot as Canada improved to 2-0-0-0 in Group A play. 

While it’s still early in the tournament, McTavish and Connor Bedard have been a nightmare for opponents to deal with. McTavish is up to eight points in the tournament and Bedard has four through two contests. 

The four goals by McTavish aren’t the most by a player in a single game at the World Juniors, but he is now ingrained in Canadian World Juniors record books. 

Most goals in a World Juniors game by a Canadian player

McTavish became the seventh Canadian player to score four goals in a game at the World Juniors. 

Connor Bedard was the last player to accomplish the feat. He became the youngest player to pot four in a game when he did it at the canceled tournament in December. But that game is considered unofficial since the tournament restarted in August and the December results don’t count toward the competition. 

Most total goals by a player at a World Juniors tournament

As for most total goals scored by a player at a World Juniors tournament, Markus Näslund owns the record. 

Before he was ripping it up in the NHL with the Canucks, Näslund scored 13 for Sweden at the 1993 World Juniors. He finished the tournament with 24 points in seven games played. That wasn’t even the most on his team, though; Peter Forsberg led Sweden with 31 points. And that output wasn’t enough to win gold, as Sweden fell to Canada in the gold-medal game. 

MORE: Team Canada 2022 World Juniors roster, results

In all, 12 players have scored at least 10 goals in a single World Juniors tournament. The feat has not been accomplished since Näslund in 1993.