You could say it was a turbulent preliminary round at the world juniors for Canada.
Starting from a 2-0 deficit behind Team USA in the tournament opener on Boxing Day, the Canadians were able to come away with a 6-4 win, but it left behind questions as to how the goaltending would hold up — or who would wind up being the No. 1.
Game 2, a 6-0 loss to Russia, was one of the worst defeats in team history at the world juniors and left the Canadians without two key players: Alexis Lafreniere, the presumed No. 1 overall NHL draft pick this June, left with a knee injury, while Joe Veleno was suspended one game for a head-butting incident. Goalie Nico Daws was pulled, so again questions persisted at the position.
Canada’s third game was much less dramatic, a 4-1 chalk win over the Germans, and it sort of steadied the ship. The team got through the game without two of its key forwards and goalie Joel Hofer seemed to win the starting job in net.
So that Canada’s final preliminary round game had some hectic moments and a record-setting run was maybe not the most surprising outcome. Playing the host Czechs, Canada was able to come away with a one-sided 7-2 win that, after everything, locked them in as the No. 1 seed from Group B and a medal-round date against Slovakia.
But after a very fast start against the Czechs, there was a time it seemed like this game could slip away from the Red and White. It could have happened, if not for their power play and all the opportunities it was given.
Here are our takeaways from Canada’s final game before the medal round:
THE ROCK SOLID POWER PLAY
Coming into the game against the Czechs, Canada’s power-play efficiency rate was humming along at 33.3 per cent, good for second in the tournament. But Canada had only been put on the power play 12 times, which was a tournament low before they met the hosts.
In the first period alone on Tuesday, Canada was given three power plays, including a five-minute advantage after Otakar Sik was given a game misconduct for spearing Bowen Byram in the groin. Team Canada was not going to let this chance pass them by. On the three power plays, Canada managed four goals to come out of the first period with a commanding 4-0 lead.
In fact, the four power-play goals Canada scored (Barrett Hayton, Connor McMichael, Joe Veleno, Nolan Foote) set a team record and tied a tournament record for PP goals in a single period. The U.S. also scored four goals on the man advantage in a single WJC period in 2013.
So now the Canadians leave the preliminary round with the top-ranked power play at 45 per cent, and the best route possible through the medal round. For all the questions they faced before the tournament, the uncertainty in net, and the uphill climb they had to make in battling through their first three games, it’s almost unbelievable Canada wound up as the best in their group.
THE MOMENT IT ALMOST SLIPPED AWAY — AND THEN WAS TAKEN BACK
If there is a troubling takeaway from such a lopsided win, it’s how Canada’s lack of urgency in the second period allowed the Czechs back in it. And if not for one unlucky bounce, this game could have had a much different conclusion.
Just past the halfway mark of the second, the Czech Republic scored twice — once on the power play and once at even strength — just 14 seconds apart. Suddenly a historic first period and a monster lead was cut in half. With the home crowd building in noise and intensity behind them, the Czechs were now only trailing 4-2 and appeared to have all the momentum on their side.
Then fortune went against them.
Seconds after the Czech goal, Canada’s Ty Smith dumped the puck in from the red line, but as Czech goalie Nick Malik left the net to stop it behind the net, the puck took a wild bounce directly to Liam Foudy, who was left wide open in front with not even a goalie left to stop him. The Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick buried the puck to give Canada a 5-2 lead and break any momentum the Czechs were gaining.
The two Czech goals and the Canadian answer all happened within 24 seconds of each other, which set another tournament record for the three fastest goals between two teams in world junior history. It broke the previous record of 26 seconds from a Sweden-Germany game in 1983.
But that’s not all — it got even worse for the Czechs.
The coaching staff decided to challenge the Canadian goal for offside, but when the review came back negative, the Czechs were given another two-minute minor penalty. And before long, Canada had scored another on the man advantage, this time off the stick of Dylan Cozens, to restore their four-goal lead. Cozens was named player of the game for his efforts, which included this goal and three assists.
That was the moment it really felt as though Canada had won the game. The Czechs and their fans were deflated after a furious push in the middle of the second period.
GOOD RESULT, BUT PLENTY TO PROVE
There are lots of positive takeaways from the preliminary round for the Canadians. The questions in net appear to have been answered. Dealing with some adversity, they were able to put together a performance good enough for the No. 1 seed in the group. And, outside of the Russia loss, they showed an ability to find another level and rise to the occasion at critical moments.
But now we’re into the single elimination games and the competition is going to be stiffer. Two of Canada’s three wins have come against teams they’re supposed to beat — Germany and the Czech Republic. And the Czechs were even significantly banged up, missing three 19-year-olds to injury, and losing another mid-game when Sik was given the boot.
However, against the sort of teams that should be challenging for gold, the Canadians have been less impressive.
With a full roster against the Americans they were, on one hand, able to overcome an early two-goal deficit, but later blew a two-goal lead of their own before Lafreniere’s goal in the final minutes led them to victory.
Lafreniere missed his second game in a row Tuesday, and though the outlook for his injury isn’t bad, there’s still no guarantee Canada’s most dangerous offensive player will return. Against the Russians, Canada was absent and lost the physical game — and though Russia will wind up third in Group B, that is not a team anyone should be looking forward to matching up against.
The Canadians will face another one of those “should beat” teams in their first medal-round game against Slovakia on Jan. 2. That should at least lead Canada to a better result than it ended with at last year’s tournament, when Finland ousted them in the first medal-round game. But gold? There’s nothing separating this team from the pack of contenders right now.
The Canadians certainly can’t look past Slovakia. A loss to them would leave Canada without a medal in five of the past eight WJCs — extending the country’s worst stretch in tournament history. But, assuming they do move past Slovakia, Canada will likely only see the cream of the crop from then on out, and their showings against those types of teams have been far from flawless. More than half of Canada’s goals have come on the power play this tournament, and they cannot count on being given that many advantages going forward.
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
