Issac Howard scored four goals as the United States beat Canada ©IIHF

United States overcame defending champions Canada as the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Under-18 World Championships began in Germany.

The US are seeking their 11th title at the event and the first since 2017.

Their prospects look bright after a dominant win over Canada at the Fanatec Arena in Landshut.

Issac Howard proved the star for the US team with four goals in the match, with Logan Cooley, Cruz Lucius, Ryan Chesley and Cole Spicer also on target.

Matthew Wood, Mathew Ward and Connor Bedard found the net for Canada, but the US emerged as comfortable 8-3 winners.

Hosts Germany suffered defeat in the other Group A contest of the day.

The German team enjoyed a dream start when Roman Kechter opened the scoring in the first period of the contest, only for Simon Slavicek to level the score for the Czech Republic.

Luca Hauf restored Germany’s lead before the Czech Republic seized control, with two goals from Jiri Kulich, either side of an effort from Adam Bares.

Germany were unable to respond in a scoreless third period as the Czech Republic sealed a 4-2 victory.

Finland and Switzerland had contested the opening match of the tournament, with the Group B clash taking place at the Erdgas Schwaben Arena in Kaufbeuren.

The opening period ended level with Finland’s Jere Lassila and Gregory Weber scoring.

Finland seized control in the second as Joakim Kemell, Jani Nyman and Lenni Hameeaho gave the team a 4-1 advantage, before Theirry Schild reduced the arrears for Switzerland.

Topi Ronni and Tuomas Uronen ensured Finland began with a victory, with their third period goals completing a 6-2 victory.

Latvia joined Finland at the top of the Group B standings after edging a close contest against Sweden.

Raniers Darzins and Erasts Nazarenko gave Latvia the lead twice in the contest, only for Noah Ostlund and Filip Bystedt to draw Sweden level.

Eriks Mateiko proved the matchwinner for Latvia, with his second period effort clinching a 3-2 victory.

Only eight teams are featuring at this edition of the World Championships, with Russia and Belarus banned due to the invasion of Ukraine.

All eight teams will advance to the quarter-finals, while relegation has been scrapped this year.

Group matches will continue tomorrow before a rest day.

The tournament will take place until May 1, when the gold and bronze medal matches are contested.