Blackwood gets the start for Canada vs. Swiss

Canadian goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. (Sean Kilpatrick/CP)

HELSINKI — Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will make his world junior hockey championship debut on Tuesday as Canada plays Switzerland in the preliminary round.

Blackwood sat out Canada’s first two games of the tournament as he completed an eight-game suspension from the Ontario Hockey League.

The Barrie Colts goalie slashed Wolves forward Danny Desrochers during a Dec. 4 game in Sudbury, Ont.

He was handed a match penalty for the slash.

Mason McDonald started Canada’s first two games of the world juniors with Samuel Montembeault serving as backup goaltender.

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