Connor McDavid's points record matched in Canada's win over Switzerland
Kelowna star records 5 points as Canada advances to semifinal
Canada's under-18 team captain Tyson Jost can change the direction of a game with just one play.
Jost scored three goals, including one shorthanded to open the barrage, and set up two more as Canada downed Switzerland 9-1 in quarter-final action at the U-18 world championships on Thursday.
"I think that goal by Tyson in the first period when he was shorthanded, that really set the momentum for us and kind of shut their momentum down on the power play," said forward Brett Howden, who also had five points with two goals and three assists. "He's a great player and he made a great play for our team.
"He's a great captain leading by example out there and all the guys are following his lead."
Jost leads all players at the tournament with six goals and eight assists for 14 points, which ties Connor McDavid's Canadian record for most points at a single U-18 tournament. He also has zero penalty minutes through five games.
Howden is third with five goals and three assists.
Michael McLeod scored twice and David Quenneville and Cameron Morrison rounded out the Canadian attack with a goal and an assist each. Dante Fabbro chipped in with three assists.
Canada will play the winner of the Thursday's later quarter-final between Sweden and Slovakia in Saturday's semifinal game.
Confidence booster
Howden says he and his teammates will be preparing the same way regardless of who they'll face.
"That's the main thing — no matter who we're playing we can't change the way we see the game," he said. "Looking at the two teams we might play we know it's going to be a battle no matter what. We're looking forward to our next game. Even though we have a day off tomorrow it's not really a day off. It's just to get rest and re-hydrated and focused for what's up ahead."
Janik Loosli had the lone goal for the Swiss in the second period and Philip Wuthrich made 36 saves in the losing effort.
Evan Fitzpatrick stopped 25 shots for the win.
"Having a goalie like that playing as well as he has been is definitely a confidence booster for our group," Howden said of Fitzpatrick. "Someone makes a mistake and we know we have Fitzy back there bailing us out. He's done a great job all tournament. He's really bailed us out a few times.
"If we clean up a few things he won't have to save our butts so much. But having a goalie like that, it's definitely a big confidence booster."