It was a member of the Penticton Vees who got the party started Saturday, Dec. 30, when Switzerland met Norway at the World Juniors.
Simon Meier, 18, found the back of the net for Team Switzerland, scoring the game’s first goal and giving his home nation a 1-0 lead in round-robin play.
Switzerland would cruise to a 6-2 victory, their first of the 2024 World Juniors. The team is now guaranteed to continue playing when knockout-stage action kicks off in the new year.
Meier has 23 points in as many games with the Vees in
The forward signed with Penticton last summer after the BCHL broke away from Hockey Canada and permitted its teams to roster players from outside North America.
Group play at the Sweden-hosted World Juniors wraps up Dec. 31, before knockout-round action begins in January.
The gold medal — won by Canada in 2023 — will be played for on Jan. 5.
READ MORE: Canada blanked 2-0 by host Sweden in world juniors group play