Mark Stone and teammates celebrate one of his three goals against Finland on Boxing Day. (photo courtesy of hockeycanada.ca)

Team Canada started early and kept it rolling to open the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championships with an 8-1 win over Finland on Monday night, calming concerns after a pre-tournament loss to Sweden.

Brandon Wheat King forward Mark Stone opened the scoring 2:14 into the first period and completed his hat trick at the start of the third in the rout.  Stone finished with three goals and four points in the win.  His line-mate Jonathan Huberdeau, of Saint John Sea Dogs, had a team-high goal and five points.

Brendan Gallagher, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Connolly and Ryan Strome were the other goal scorers for Canada in the win.  Alexander Ruuttu was the lone Fin to beat Canadian goalie Mark Visentin.  

After a shaky outing against Sweden, Visentin was solid in win, making 24 saves.

Canada will have Tuesday off before returning to the Rexall Place ice against Czech Republic.

Canada Notes: It wasn’t all good news for Canada on Boxing Day though, Devante Smith-Pelly, on lone from the Anaheim Ducks, left the game in the second period after blocking a shot.  He was taken to hospital for x-rays, but reports point to a fracture... The last Canadian player to score a hat trick in a world junior championship game was Brayden Schenn, also a Brandon Wheat King, on Dec. 29, 2010 versus Norway.