LAPPEENRANTA, Finland -- Forward Brayden Point impressed head coach Kevin Dineen for the second straight exhibition game as Canadas under-18 hockey team defeated Denmark 7-2 on Monday. Chris Tierney Senators Jersey . Point scored twice and had an assist as the Canadians tuned up for their U18 world championship opener Thursday against Sweden. "He goes to the hard places," said head coach Kevin Dineen, who recently guided the Canadian womens team to Olympic gold in Sochi. "He earns everything he gets." Point, who plays for the Western Hockey Leagues Moose Jaw Warriors, had a goal and an assist in last Fridays 3-2 loss to Finland. The five-foot-eight forward has been centring a line with Travis Konecny of the Ottawa 67s and Brendan Perlini of the Niagara IceDogs. Konecny had a goal Monday and Perlini added three assists. "For the most part that line has been very good," Dineen said. "Theyre a pretty dynamic group." Ryan Gropp of the Seattle Thunderbirds, Clark Bishop of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Ben Thomas of the Calgary Hitmen and Haydn Fleury of the Red Deer Rebels had the other Canadian goals. Julio Billia of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens and Mason McDonald of the Charlottetown Islanders split the goaltending duties. Billia allowed both goals as Canada outshot Denmark 46-23. Preliminary round play begins Thursday and continues through April 22 with the medal games set for April 27. Canada has won gold at this tournament on three occasions: 2003, 2008 and 2013. The defending champions havent had a lot of time together. Some players just arrived in Europe on Monday. "Were at a bit of a disadvantage ... with this quick turnaround and putting a team together," said Dineen. "But at the end of it were talking about the best 17-year-old hockey players in Canada and when you have that it may make up a little bit for lack of chemistry." Jean-Gabriel Pageau Jersey . Hes coming back to fulfil them. One of Europes top coaches, Blatt was hired Friday by the Cavaliers, who ended a sweeping, 39-day search with an out-of-the-box selection they hope changes their fortunes. Craig Anderson Jersey . -- The taxing preseason, which included two games in China, is finally over. http://www.senatorssale.com/ .J. Ellis have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year contract.WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- While awaiting medical clearance to resume driving after a concussion, James Hinchcliffes thoughts of competing in the Indianapolis 500 went from apprehension to appreciation. "It was the not knowing, that was the hard part," said Hinchcliffe, who qualified second for the 500 after being cleared to return. "As a racing driver, were all control freaks basically, and not knowing and having your future in someone elses hands like that in a sense, it was very nerve-wracking." Hinchcliffe sustained a concussion when struck in the head by debris from another car in the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10. He missed five days while waiting to be cleared and then qualified second, despite limited practice time. "You feel like youre falling behind," the 27-year-old Canadian said Tuesday at an Indy Car event in Milwaukee, site of a race in August. "The nature of this sport is, the guys that win are the guys that work harder than the other people. Thats in life. Thats a pretty universal truth. So, Ive always lived by that and Ive always worked very hard. Ive always tried very hard. It was so counterintuitive that in this case, to do the best job and to try the hardest, it was to do nothing." After most of Fridays practice was rained out, and one day of qualifying runs on Saturday, Hinchcliffe averaged 230.839 mph in Sundays qualifying, which was the fastest until Ed Carpenter averaged 231.067 mph as the last driver to attempt to qualify. "Basically, I had a day," Hinchcliffe said. "If I couldnt have a single run before attempting to qualify, they probably wouldnt have felt comfortable putting me in a car. "But, I did get one run on Friday and then I think we did one run on Saturday morning. So, I think my first qualifying attempt was like my ninth lap of the month." Carpenter shared the Milwaukee appearance with Hinchcliffee. Craig Anderson Senators Jersey. Carpenter said he was glad that Hinchcliffe was cleared to race. "It would be torture," Carpenter said. "Honestly, all the drivers were so happy that he was able to make it back, because to have to miss that race of all races. Every one of us waits the whole year to get back to Indy every year. "It wouldnt be fair for any driver to have to sit out for an injury." Hinchcliffe agreed that the fact that it was the Indianapolis 500 as opposed to another race made it more difficult. "Racing is difficult to compare to other sports for a lot of reasons in a lot ways," Hinchcliffe said. "For us, this our playoffs, this is our Super Bowl, this is our World Series. Nobody wants to be sidelined for any race, but if you have to be sidelined for one, good god, anything but the 500." As part of the event at the Milwaukee Mile, fans were allowed to walk the oval behind a slow-moving minivan carrying Carpenter and Hinchcliffe. The drivers faced backward out of the van and answered questions from track officials and fans in an informal conversation. "That was really impressive," said Hinchcliffe, adding that he had never been part of an event like that. "I think it gives the fans a unique perspective on everything and gave them an opportunity to ask a lot of questions, which was great. And actually get out on the racing surface. It was very cool." Scott Gerloski, 51, who lives in the Milwaukee area and described himself as an avid race fan, appreciated the chance to meet and talk with the drivers in an informal setting. "Its a great way to connect with the fans," Gerloski said. "It just made me have new favourite drivers in the sport. I dont follow Indy as closely as I once did only due to driver unfamiliarity, but these two guys I know now. I know these guys, I like these guys and Im going to pull for them." ' ' '