HOCKEY NOTES: Carter scores again for Canada

Soo Greyhounds captain Jeff Carter is continuing to prove to be an integral part of Canada's run at the World Junior Hockey Championships.

Carter, an assistant captain with Team Canada, scored his second goal in as many games on Monday to help Canada to a convincing 8-1 win over Sweden in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Carter also scored in Canada's 7-3 win over Slovakia in the tournament opener on Christmas Day.

Canada improved to 2-0 in the tournament and will next face Germany on Tuesday at 8 p.m. The game can be seen live on The Sports Network, channel 23 locally.

*** GREYHOUNDS RETURN TO ACTION:

The Soo Greyhounds return to action following an eight break on Tuesday at Memorial Gardens against the Saginaw Spirit beginning at 7 p.m.

It will be the Hounds first game on home ice since Dec. 5. Since, the team has played seven consecutive games on the road and finished with a 3-3-0-1 record.

Aside from Carter, the locals will be without goaltender Jakub Cech and defenseman Martin Tuma, who are currently suiting up for the Czech Republic at the WJHC.

Meanwhile, rookies Ryan McInerney and Josh Day will also be away playing the World Under-17 Hockey Challenege for Team Ontario and Team Atlantic, respectively. The tournament begins on Wednesday in Lethbridge, Alberta.

The Greyhounds enter the second half of the season in first place in the Ontario Hockey League's west division at 15-15-5-1 with a two point lead over the Plymouth Whalers and four ahead of the Windsor Spitfires.

Plymouth holds two games in hand on the Hounds while the Spitfires have a single game.

*** T-BIRDS ENJOY EXTENDED VACATION:

The Soo Thunderbirds are currently enjoying an extended break from Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play.

The Thunderbirds return to action on Friday, January 7 in North Bay before visiting the Blind River Beavers the following night.

Next home action for the T-Birds is Friday, January 14, against the Sudbury Northern Wolves at 6 p.m. at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The Thunderbirds entered the break after a 5-2 loss to Sudbury last Wednesday. Matt Caria and Joe Thorburn scored for the T-Birds while Ryan Maunu added a pair of assists.

Through 28 games, the Thunderbirds hold a 14-11-2-1 record and sit in second place in the western division, two points behind the Northern Michigan Black Bears, who hold a game in hand.

Blind River is one point behind the Thunderbirds with a game in hand while the Manitoulin Wild sit last, three points behind the T-Birds.