EDMONTON — It was of those games you’ll never remember — unless Canada loses it. Then, it would never be forgotten.
It was dull, it was workmanlike, it was frustrating and at times sloppy. But it turned into a win for Team Canada, which ground out a 3-1 victory over Slovakia on Sunday in Edmonton.
“Concentrate on your work ethic, your courage, and … as a team we can just do good things,” Slovak head coach Robert Petrovicky told his players. “Our boys are happy to be here, and we want to do something special as a team.”
They very nearly did.
After a 16-2 win over Germany the night before, this was a brown out for Canada, which scored 4:06 into the game and again 3:25 before the final buzzer, while adding an empty netter. In between it was a power outage, as the country that gave hockey the brothers Stastny, Zdeno Chara and Miroslav Satan gave Canada a (cough) devil of a time in their second game at the 2021 World Juniors.
Dylan Holloway took the skate but did not play due to injury, joining injured captain Kirby Dach, while defenceman Braden Schneider was serving a one-game suspension for a head shot delivered against Germany. That’s OK though, because it was his replacement, Jordan Spence, who scored the game-opening Canadian goal that stood up for most of the night.
On Saturday, Canada had 10 different goal scorers and points from 17 of 20 players. On Sunday, Canada had just 23 shots on goal.
Here are our takeaways, as Canada moves to 2-0 at the tournament.
The Whitehorse Workhorse
Dylan Cozens is emerging as the leader of a team that lost captain Kirby Dach before the tournament even began. The Buffalo Sabres draftee followed a six-point night versus Germany with a key assist Sunday and an all-around performance that just oozed leadership.
“Cozy was really solid for us today,” Canadian coach Andre Tourigny said. “It wasn’t easy … and at some point we had a little bit of emotion on the bench. Dylan stayed calm and cool, and his presence was really good. He stayed patient and that translated to his teammates.”
Remember, Tourigny’s team has barely played together — just one pre-tournament game and two more after that. There is much to learn, and little time to do it inside the short window of this tournament.
“We grew as a group tonight,” Tourigny said. “We learned to go through adversity, and to keep our composure. It went away a little bit, in the second period we were forcing it, but by the end of the period we were patient with the outcome. Not panicking or trying to force it.
“As a team we learned,” he continued. “You learn about your players when the pressure is on. Who changes their game? Who just stays composed? Dylan Cozens really stayed with it. He’s been in that tough situation before, and it showed.”
Hey Nineteen
It was Devon Levi’s birthday, but Jordan Spence got the present.
After being a healthy scratch in Game 1, Spence scored on his first shift of the game, a goal that held up most of the night for Canada.
“A loose puck in front of the net and it came right to me. Pretty cool,” said Spence, lucky to draw in due to Schneider’s suspension. “It’s been amazing. It was unfortunate for Schneider to get suspended, and I got the call I was going to be in the lineup. Obviously a lot of emotions going on, being scratched, coming back the next day and then scoring. It’s amazing.”
At the other end, Levi was spending his 19th birthday trying to stay awake. The Slovaks had just four shots in each of the first two periods.
“I woke up, ate breakfast and focused on the game. Didn’t go on the phone much … I’ll answer my birthday wishes later. Just being here is enough,” Levi said. “It’s definitely not easy to get eight shots in the first two periods, then come into quite a few shots (nine in the third). Being a 1-0 game definitely kept me in it. I stayed focused, and just concentrated on the next shot.”
There is a lot of talk around Team Canada about the process. Don’t worry about the score, the kind of game being played, or whether you’re getting the bounces. Just play the way you’re supposed to play.
“Just stay humble,” Spence said, “and don’t let the distractions get in our way.”
•••
When Canada beats a team by 14 we shrug our shoulders and say, “Mismatch.” So, when a country like Slovakia comes out and gives out boys everything they can handle, let’s tip our cap to them, shall we?
Led by head coach and NHL veteran Petrovicky — Hartford, Dallas, St. Louis, Tampa, New York Islanders — the Slovaks have never been a U-20 powerhouse.
“After the second period the game was close,” said Petrovicky, who told his players during the second intermission, “to wait for the opportunity. It will come. It didn’t go our way at the end of the game. But I am very proud of the boys.
“Of course, we were playing a patient game and waiting for our chance. We were getting closer and closer, had a couple of chances … Every player has to buy in — that’s what we come for. To play as a team. We lost the game but I felt we played well, played hard. I’m proud of the guys.”
The only scoreless tie in Canada’s World Junior history came against the Slovaks in 1999 at Winnipeg, and since then Canada has won 14 straight in this matchup. At 14-0-1, Canada has never lost to the Slovaks, outscoring them 75-16. This game was much closer than expected, to be sure.
“After the game we were happy,” said Martin Chromiak, who had the only Slovak goal on a blistering power play wrister that made the score 2-1 for Canada with 1:24 to play. “We had so many opportunities to score a tying goal. But I think we did a really good job. We watched the game yesterday (against Germany) but we didn’t think about it.”
Goalie Samuel Hlavac only saw 23 shots. Compared to the 44 Canada fired on the German nets — or the 73 that the United States wired at the Austrian net on Boxing Day — this was almost a night off for the Slovak goaltender.
“It’s Canada, so we expect the worse,” Hlavac said. “But we played a really good game. Our guys blocked every shot, I think we can build on this game for the future.
“In the D zone we were not giving them the space. Just gave the shots from the blue-line.”
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.
