Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard scored two goals, connecting 3:50 apart in the second period, to lead Canada to a 4-2 win over scrappy Great Britain in the teams' opener at the IIHF World Championships on Saturday.

Canada opened its title defense by outshooting newcomer Britain 34-15 in Prague.

The 18-year-old Bedard is the youngest player on Canada's team, a squad stocked by NHLers whose teams are out of the playoffs. He was the league's leading rookie scorer in 2023-24 with 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games, despite missing 14 contests with a broken jaw.

Bedard had four two-goal games for Chicago last season. The North Vancouver, British Columbia native added another to help Canada pull away Saturday.

Britain took a brief 1-0 lead in the first period before Pittsburgh Penguin Michael Bunting tied it. Tampa Bay and former Blackhawks forward Brandon Hagel put Canada ahead 5:45 into the second period with a shot high.

Then Bedard put Canada in charge.

He swept down the slot and buried a loose rebound at 11:39 of the second to make it 3-1. Bedard then one-timed in shot from the right circle off a crisp feed from Nick Paul at 15:29 to up Canada's lead to 4-1.

Bedard led all players with four shots on goal. He had 15:32 of ice time.

Bedard picked up where he left off in international competition after leading Canada to a IIHF World Junior Championship in January 2023. The teenager was named the IIHF's 2023 Male Player of the Year after putting up a record 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in seven games in the 2022-23 WJC tournament in Atlantic Canada.

Canada next plays on Sunday, meeting Denmark at 4:20 p.m. local time in Prague.