Jonathan Bernier will start in goal when Canada opens defence of its world junior hockey title Wednesday in the Czech Republic.

Head coach Craig Hartsburg decided Monday to go with the 19-year-old from Laval, Que., as Canada — trying for its fourth straight gold medal — opens round-robin play in Pardubice against the host Czechs (2 p.m. ET).

Jonathan Bernier played four NHL games this season before being returned to juniors.
(Mike Sturk/Canadian Press)

Bernier, who stopped 23 of 24 shots in a 6-1 exhibition win over Slovakia on Thursday, went 1-3-0 with a 4.03 goals-against average in four starts for the Los Angeles Kings at the beginning of this NHL season. He was then returned to Lewiston of the Quebec junior league, where he has gone 7-6-1 with a 2.95 GAA.

Bernier and Steve Mason each made nine saves while splitting time during a 5-0 win over Austrian club team Red Bull Salzburg on Dec. 17.

Mason, a third-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, made 31 saves on 33 shots in Canada's 4-2 win over Finland on Sunday in Chrudin, Czech Republic.

With files from the Canadian Press