Alex Pietrangelo, right, and Cody Hodgson, left, gather after one of Canada's four goals Friday in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)Cody Hodgson had a goal and two assists as Canada beat Sweden 4-2 in an exhibition game on Friday ahead of next week's world junior championship.
John Tavares scored the opening goal in the clash at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Tavares was playing against defenceman Victor Hedman, who is seen as his main competition to be the No. 1 pick at the NHL draft in June.
But it was Hodgson, a first-round draft pick of Vancouver and one of Don Cherry's favourite prospects, who led the way on the scoresheet.
Canada's other scorers were Jamie Benn and Zach Boychuk, one of four returnees from last year's junior team.
Hedman scored for Sweden, as did Oscar Moller, who has 13 points in 30 games with the Los Angeles Kings so far this season.
Chet Pickard and Dustin Tokarski split goaltending duties for Canada.
The host team will begin a bid for a fifth consecutive title in Ottawa on Dec. 26 against the Czech Republic.
Canada will play exhibition games Sunday in Mississauga, Ont., against Finland, returning two nights later in Hamilton to take on Slovakia.
With files from the Canadian Press
