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Blues players making impact in IIHF

The Blues have players sprinkled in throughout the rosters of the tournament.
Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2018; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) handles the puck as Colorado Avalanche left wing Matt Nieto (83) defends during the first period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

ST. LOUIS – The 2018 IIHF World Championship opened with a bang in Denmark for a handful of Blues players.

Tage Thompson and the United States opened tournament play on Friday with a 5-4 shootout victory over Canada, which featured the trio of Blues players Colton Parayko, Jaden Schwartz and Brayden Schenn.

Thompson had an assist on USA's first goal, scored by Anders Lee of the New York Islanders in the first period after Canada had taken a 2-0 lead.

Parayko's goal at 10:48 of the third period, on an assist from Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, tied the game 4-4.

Schenn was Canada's third player in the shootout, won by USA 2-1 in six rounds (both goals scored by Columbus' Cam Adkinson), and was stopped by USA and New Jersey Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid.

Schwartz did not score but created scoring chances playing on a line with McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Oilers). Schenn centered a line with Ryan O'Reilly (Buffalo Sabres) and Josh Bailey (Islanders).

Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson did not play Friday, and TSN color commentator and former Blue Ray Ferraro mentioned that Edmundson was dealing with a groin issue but Canada was hopeful of adding him to the roster and to be made available for selection to play at some point.

Defenseman Vince Dunn was also supposed to be on Canada's squad but had to withdraw with an upper-body injury.

Blues assistant general manager Martin Brodeur, co-GM of Canada, and Blues coach Mike Yeo is the associate coach.

In Russia's 7-0 win over France in another opening day game, Blues forward Nikita Soshnikov was not in the lineup.

Goalie Ville Husso and defenseman Niko Mikkola will represent Finland, which opens tournament play Saturday against Korea (9:15 a.m. central time), and forwards Dmitrij Jaskin and Adam Musil open with the Czech Republic against Slovakia on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. (central time).

Find the remainder of the schedule of the tournament here.

Also, 2017 first round pick Robert Thomas and the Hamilton Bulldogs opened up the Ontario Hockey League championship series on Thursday with a 4-3 overtime win against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Thomas had a goal and an assist in the game, and former St. Louis AAA Blues alum Ryan Roth had an assist for the Greyhounds.

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