Brandt Clarke was a month short of his sixth birthday.
The moment, however, remains etched in his memory.
John Tavares scored a dramatic hat trick for Canada against the United States in a wild 7-4 victory on New Year’s Eve at the 2009 world junior hockey championship in Ottawa.
Clarke and his family were in the building — hanging off every shot, save and hit from the stands.
“The electricity in the building,” he said of what still resonates some 14 years later. “The red jerseys all the way to the top … 20,000 people, winning the game against the Americans.
“It’s unmatchable.”
With another mouth-watering instalment of the bitter rivalry set for Wednesday thanks to Connor Bedard’s overtime heroics for Canada in the quarterfinals, Clarke is confident his teammate and the country’s best player — just like Tavares that frigid night in the nation’s capital — will rise to the occasion.
“I don’t expect him to take any steps back,” the Los Angeles Kings defenceman said following Tuesday’s brief practice. “All I’ve seen so far is him take steps forward. Even when it’s hard to imagine him still being able to take steps forward, he’s done it.
“I don’t think that’ll change.”
Bedard making history
Bedard has not only changed a couple lines in record books at the men’s under-20 tournament.
He’s torn it to shreds.
The presumptive first pick at the 2023 NHL draft set five national or tournament marks early in Monday’s triumph against Slovakia before a breathtaking solo effort in OT nearly blew the roof off a frothing Scotiabank Centre.
Bedard has registered the most goals (16) and points (34) all-time by a Canadian at the tournament. He’s also set the national record for points (21) and assists (13) at a single event, and has the most points ever by a player under age 18 from any country.
Connor Bedard smashes Canadian World Juniors record
17-year-old Connor Bedard has made history as one of the best Canadian World Juniors players ever, breaking multiple records in Monday’s game against Slovakia. The budding superstar is projected to be the first pick in next year’s NHL draft.
But for all the accolades, the 17-year-old North Vancouver, B.C., native has made a habit of quickly turning the page.
His headline-grabbing performance in the quarterfinals was no different.
“That’s really incredible for him to be able shut out or ignore all the media and how much attention he’s getting,” Canadian goaltender Thomas Milic said. “He’s a team-first guy. A quote I like is, ‘A rising tide lifts all boats.’ Us having team success is contributing to him and everyone else.”
“He doesn’t sit there and dwell on the biggest goal of the tournament,” Canadian head coach Dennis Williams added of Bedard, who didn’t speak to reporters Tuesday. “You wouldn’t have known that after the game — his focus was already on to the next challenge.”
That comes Wednesday in the latest clash of the sport’s North American powers.
“Every kid’s dream,” said U.S. forward and Winnipeg Jets prospect Rutger McGroarty. “Playing in a barn like this against your rival, it’ll be a fun one.
“It just gets us juiced up to see that atmosphere, see how crazy it’s going to be.”
Whether it’s the Olympics, world juniors, world championships or any other level, extra motivation isn’t necessary when the countries hit the ice.
“Don’t think we need to go in as coaches and get the room going,” Williams said. “If anything, we’ve got to calm them down.”
The clutch gene
Tavares, Sidney Crosby, Joe Sakic, Haley Wickenheiser, Marie-Philip Poulin and many others have risen to the occasion in similar moments.
This Canadian iteration is hoping for the same.
“All of us dreamed of this as kids,” said winger Brennan Othmann. “This is the game, this is the moment.”
“The biggest rivalry,” added forward and Ottawa Senators prospect Zach Ostapchuk. “And for us, personally, it’s big. It’ll be really exciting.”
For all the points Bedard has put up, the Americans are also dangerous, especially the top line of Logan Cooley, Jimmy Snuggerud and Cutter Gauthier, who sit second, third and fifth in tournament scoring.
“Skilled guys,” said Canadian centre Logan Stankoven, who plays alongside Bedard and is No. 4 in the points race. “They strike fast and quick.”
Logan Cooley scored a hat trick and added an assist to lead the U.S. past Germany 11-1 on Monday in world juniors quarterfinal play in Moncton, N.B. (Dale Preston/Getty Images)
Taking the body will be a big part of Canada’s mindset against the Americans, including trying to make life difficult for their undersized defence corps.
“They don’t like the physical play,” Clarke said.
For all the drama Monday, one area where the Canadians will look to improve is faceoffs after a success rate of just 45 per cent.
“We’re chasing the game too much there,” Williams said. “We were going to position before possession.”
Canada lost to the U.S. in the final of the 2021 tournament in the COVID-19 bubble in Edmonton in the countries’ last meeting at the world juniors.
‘These are games I loved watching growing up’
“Super special,” Milic said. “These are games I loved watching growing up. We’re pretty fortunate to be able to be in this position to play in one and really have a big battle for our country.”
Canada got to this point thanks to another spectacular performance from Bedard, who dropped to one knee for his own version of the “heartbreaker” celebration made famous by U.S. great Patrick Kane after scoring the winner against the Slovaks.
“That was pretty cool,” Clarke said. “Especially in a big setting like that. The whole building’s going crazy, the whole building’s chanting ‘M-V-P’ for him.
“That’s what he’s been doing all tournament — just breaking hearts.”
Bedard and Canada will look to do the same against the Americans.
Connor Bedard punches Canada’s ticket to world junior semifinals with dazzling winner against Slovakia
On a historic night for the youngster, Connor Bedard scored in overtime to propel Canada to a 4-3 victory. Canada will play the United States in the semifinals.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Canada’s Marina Stakusic fell 6-4, 6-3 to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals of the Guadalajara Open tennis tournament on Friday.
The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., won 61 per cent of her first-serve points and broke on just one of her six opportunities.
Stakusic had upset top-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (0) on Thursday night to advance.
In the opening round, Stakusic defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlová 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Frech won 62 per cent of her first-serve points and converted on three of her nine break point opportunities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Alejandro Kirk’s long single with the bases loaded provided the Toronto Blue Jays with a walk-off 4-3 win in the 11th inning of their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
With the Cardinals outfield in, Kirk drove a shot off the base of the left-field wall to give the Blue Jays (70-78) their fourth win in 11 outings and halt the Cardinals’ (74-73) two-game win streak before 30,380 at Rogers Centre.
Kirk enjoyed a two-hit, two-RBI outing.
Erik Swanson (2-2) pitched a perfect 11th inning for the win, while Cardinals reliever Ryan Fernandez (1-5) took the loss.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman enjoyed a seven-inning, 104-pitch outing. He surrendered his two runs on nine hits and two walks and fanned only two Cardinals.
He gave way to reliever Genesis Cabrera, who gave up a one-out homer to Thomas Saggese, his first in 2024, that tied the game in the eighth.
The Cardinals started swiftly with four straight singles to open the game. But they exited the first inning with only two runs on an RBI single to centre from Nolan Arendao and a fielder’s choice from Saggese.
Gausman required 28 pitches to escape the first inning but settled down to allow his teammates to snatch the lead in the fourth.
He also deftly pitched out of threats from the visitors in the fifth, sixth and seventh thanks to some solid defence, including Will Wagner’s diving stop, which led to a double play to end the fifth inning.
George Springer led off with a walk and stole second base. He advanced to third on Nathan Lukes’s single and scored when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. knocked in his 95th run with a double off the left-field wall.
Lukes scored on a sacrifice fly to left field from Spencer Horwitz. Guerrero touched home on Kirk’s two-out single to right.
In the ninth, Guerrero made a critical diving catch on an Arenado grounder to throw out the Cardinals’ infielder, with reliever Tommy Nance covering first. The defensive gem ended the inning with a runner on second base.
St. Louis starter Erick Fedde faced the minimum night batters in the first three innings thanks to a pair of double plays. He lasted five innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
ON DECK
Toronto ace Jose Berrios (15-9) will start the second of the three-game series on Saturday. He has a six-game win streak.
The Cardinals will counter with righty Kyle Gibson (8-6).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
CALGARY – Mired in their first four-game losing skid in 20 years, the Calgary Stampeders are going back to Jake Maier at quarterback on Saturday after he was benched for a game.
It won’t be an easy assignment.
Visiting McMahon Stadium are the Eastern Conference-leading Montreal Alouettes (10-2) who own the CFL’s best record. The Stampeders (4-8) have fallen to last in the Western Conference.
“Six games is plenty of time, but also it is just six games,” said Maier. “We’ve got to be able to get on the right track.”
Calgary is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
“I do still believe in this team,” said Stampeders’ head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson. “I want to see improvement, though. I want to see guys on a weekly basis elevating their game, and we haven’t been doing that.”
Maier is one of the guys under the microscope. Two weeks ago, the second-year starter threw four interceptions in a 35-20 home loss to the Edmonton Elks.
After his replacement, rookie Logan Bonner, threw five picks in last week’s 37-16 loss to the Elks in Edmonton, the football is back in Maier’s hands.
“Any time you fail or something doesn’t go your way in life, does it stink in the moment? Yeah. But then the days go on and you learn things about yourself and you learn how to prepare a little bit better,” said Maier. “It makes you mentally tougher.”
Dickenson wants to see his quarterback making better decisions with the football.
“Things are going to happen, interceptions will happen, but try to take calculated risks, rather than just putting the ball up there and hoping that we catch it,” said Dickenson.
A former quarterback himself, he knows the importance of that vital position.
“You cannot win without good quarterback play,” Dickenson said. “You’ve got to be able to make some plays — off-schedule plays, move-around plays, plays that break down, plays that aren’t designed perfectly, but somehow you found the right guy, and then those big throws where you’re taking that hit.”
But it’s going to take a team effort, and that includes the club’s receiving corp.
“We always have to band together because we need everything to go right for our receivers to get the ball,” said Nik Lewis, the Stampeders’ receivers coach. “The running back has to pick up the blitz, the o-line has to block, the quarterback has to make the right reads, and then give us a catchable ball.”
Lewis brings a unique perspective to this season’s frustrations as he was a 22-year-old rookie in Calgary in 2004 when the Stamps went 4-14 under coach Matt Dunigan. They turned it around the next season and haven’t missed the playoffs since.”
“Thinking back and just looking at it, there’s just got to be an ultimate belief that you can get it done. Look at Montreal, they were 6-7 last year and they’ve gone 18-2 since then,” said Lewis.
Montreal is also looking to rebound from a 37-23 loss to the B.C. Lions last week. But for head coach Jason Maas, he says his team’s mindset doesn’t change, regardless of what happened the previous week.
“Last year when we went through a four-game losing streak, you couldn’t tell if we were on a four-game winning streak or a four-game losing streak by the way the guys were in the building, the way we prepared, the type of work ethic we have,” said Maas. “All our standards are set, so that’s all we focus on.”
While they may have already clinched a playoff spot, Alouettes’ quarterback Cody Fajardo says this closing stretch remains critical because they want to finish the season strong, just like last year when they won their final five regular-season games before ultimately winning the Grey Cup.
“It doesn’t matter about what you do at the beginning of the year,” said Fajardo. “All that matters is how you end the year and how well you’re playing going into the playoffs so that’s what these games are about.”
The Alouettes’ are kicking off a three-game road stretch, one Fajardo looks forward to.
“You understand what kind of team you have when you play on the road because it’s us versus the world mentality and you can feel everybody against you,” said Fajardo. “Plus, I always tend to find more joy in silencing thousands of people than bringing thousands of people to their feet.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
