Month: December 2023

Today’s Canada vs Germany was the final game of Round Robin play the 2024 World Junior Championships.  After Canada’s loss to Sweden, it’s a bit of a letdown for most Canadian fans BUT, it’s not a nothing game for the Germans.  They could move from the basement of Group “A” to second place ahead of Canada, despite yesterday’s 6-2 loss to Latvia.  Sweden has a lock on first place even though they lost yesterday in overtime to Finland.  The USA secured first place in group “B” with a 10-2 win over Slovakia.  CZECH took third place in “B” by defeating the Swiss in overtime.  Norway goes the relegation round after going winless in 4 games.

Here we go again.  11 seconds in, a big hit by Conor Geekie was called.  Guess what ?  Yep a ref’s review turned in it to 5 and game for hitting the head.  The Germans took advantage when Lutz put them ahead just 3 minutes later.  During the major, guys like Macklin Celebrini and Carson Rehkopf got zero ice time.  As soon as it was over Celebrini scored top shelf, glove side to tie things up.  The rest of the period was all Canada.  Brayden Jager put the Canadians out front with power play goal of his own.  Whitby boy Matt Poitras was creamed face first into the boards late in to the period.  The 3500 Canadian fans all yelled “5-5-5” to no avail.  Two minutes only.  Final SOG, Red Shirts 13, Germany 3.

A pretty ho-hum middle stanza got started with the Germans scoring on a PP goal from Roman Kechker at 1:26 to tie it at twos.  From there the Canadians again completely dominated play.  One problem, they wouldn’t shoot the puck and when they did they missed the net.  Canada seemed to get the message in the back half, shooting more often and ending up with a 12-4 shot advantage. Commentator Mike Johnson was going crazy watching all of the misplayed attempts and over passing.  SHOOOOT !

Owen Beck put the Canucks ahead 3-2 early.  But, true to form the refs called for another German PP and they tied it 3-3 at the 12:30 mark.  Their 3^rd PPG of the game.   The Germans only needed one point from this game to avoid having to play Norway in the one game relegation round.  Canada was relentless on the attack.  Jordan Dummais buried his first of the tournament on a Canadian PP.  17 year old and presumptive first overall pick Maklin Celebrini then scored on a break that had him shooting in his second of the game from practically the icing line.  The kid’s amazing.  5-3 Canada.  The Germans had really no choice but to pull their goalie with 3 minutes left.  Leaf prospect Easton Cowan got the 6^th and final goal when he first hit the post on an empty net shot from the blue line only to recover and score his first on nice cross crease feed.  Final 6-3 Canada.

HOPPER NOTES:  Germany caused an awful lot of havoc in front by screening Mathis Rouseau, especially on the PP…the red shirts were down to 11 forwards for the majority of the game after Matt Savoie was scratched due to injury and the early ejection of Geekie…final shots on goal were 35-20…Canada’s Player of the Game was Celebrini…nice to see a shot of the two Leaf prospects Minten and Cowan share a chuckle on the bench after Easton’s empty netter…here now are your Quarter Final match-ups set for Tuesday:

6 am    Sloakia vs Finland            8 am   Canada vs Czech

11 am USA vs Latvia                                 1:30 p Sweden vs Switzerland

Semi-final games are set for Thursday and the medal round finals will be played on Friday.  CHEERS to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !!

Canada vs Sweden, World Juniors – it can’t get much better.  Especially as both teams come in undefeated for a showdown that will likely decide the division.  Sweden has yet to allow a goal and has a strong PP led by Otto Svenberg.  It will be up to the Canadian shutdown pair of Maveric Lamoreaux and Denton Mateychuk and defensive center man Owen Beck to step up big time.

The game started out at just under 1,000 miles per hour – a loud, sold out crowd encouraged both sides to the attack and cheered every hit and there lots of those.  Two Canadian breakaways one by Macklin Celebrini and the other by Conor Rehkopf, failed to convert.  At the other end QMJHL goalie Mathis Rouseau made a huge toe save to keep it at zeroes.  The final SOG were 7-6 Sweden mostly due to a 4 minute power play, all thwarted by Team Canada.  Man, what a period of hockey !

The Swedes took control of the middle stanza, out chancing Canada by at least 7 to 3.  A strong forecheck added to Canada’s poor clearing attempts and led to the games first goal at 18:07 when Tom Velander wristed a low, stick sider.  The period didn’t have quite the same electricity – was Canada tired or nervous ?  They weren’t able to clear their own zone and there were inconsistent attacks and low attention to their forecheck.  Their 3^rd breakaway also failed when Savoie had the Swedish goalie beat only to have the puck roll off his stick at the critical moment.  After another huge save by Rouseau the Swedes went up 2 zip at 9:21.  Overall, the Tre Krona had a well-deserved lead.

Disappointing for certain – but Canada was beaten by the better team on this day.  Sweden just wanted it more.  They out chanced the Canadians, played better defense and used their speed and skill better.  Owen Beck was boarded and a major was called.  Only in the IIHF could a penalty be reviewed.  After review, the penalty was called off.  Sour grapes ?  Nah !

HOPPER NOTES:  That Gotenberg rink was rockin’…Sweden has not allowed a goal in 3 games…both of today’s goalies (Hugo Havlat and Mathis Rouseau) won “Player of the Game” for their work…hard to believe that neither has been drafted for NHL duty…Sunday’s game against Germany on Sunday is now rather meaningless since Canada has lost first place in Division A…I honestly thought that Canada had the better first period…CHEERS !

Team Latvia was coming off a 6 Zip loss to Sweden and looked shaky to start today’s game VS Canada.  Through a rather dull and scrambly start, Canada finally took the lead when Conor Geekie smoked a wrister top shelf just 4 seconds into a power play.  Shortly thereafter, Canada took a questionable call.  Only in the WJHC can the refs review a penalty which they did.  Most of us thought they were looking to up the penalty to a major.  Instead, they called the penalty off altogether.  Braedon Jager scored his first at the tournament with assists from Macklin Celebrini (his second) and Maveric Lamoreaux who was Canada’s top minute muncher from yesterday’s game.  Canada 2-0 / SOG 15-5.

Who needs Conor Bedard ?  Canada’s latest phenom, Macklin Celebrini, the consensus first overall choice has stepped in on the scoresheet quite nicely thank you.  After 2, the Canadians are up 5 to 0 with 3 assists and one fabulous breakaway goal from Macklin.  Matt Wood sent Celebrini in alone off a wonderful two-zone pass.  Owen Allard with a PP goal and Carson Rehcropp with a beauty sweep across scored the other 2 Canadian goals.  Latvia only had 7 shots on net, 4 of which were legitimate chances during a 4 on 4 in the middle of the period.  Mathis Rouseau was playing his second game and had to be sharp on those attempts.

One thing about playing a lesser opponent in these tournaments.  They can be dangerous.  Winners can become lethargic and big-headed.  Losers humiliated.

Not much to say about the third period, but here’s a quick review:

Captain Fraiser Minten buries his first – 6-0…Mathew Wood had a great game – 7-0…Latvian Goalie change…Geekie 8-0…Rehkopp 9-0 (Celebrini’s 4^th assist/5^th point)…those 4 goals were scored in just over 4 minutes…Poitra 10-0.

HOPPER NOTES:  Germany beat Finland 4 to 3 in an earlier game – their first win over the Finns in 25 attempts…seems odd that Minten has never ever played in a Team Canada game…those 5 third period goals BTW had very little in the way of celebration afterwards – classy…the Canadian crowd serenaded us again with a reprise of Summer of ’69…obvious player of game for Canada was Macklin Celebrini…final SOG 40-21…look for my summary on Friday from the 1:30 game VS Germany…CHEERS !

I love this tournament SO much – the most consistent “best on best” measuring stick you could ask for.  I can remember Wayne Gretzky scoring against the Russians in the old Montreal Forum way back in the late 70’s !

Game one for Team Canada was versus longtime nemesis (and annoyance) Finland.  Newly minted Team Canada Captain and Leaf prospect, Fraser Minten centered the so called “second line” supporting projected first overall pick in next June’s draft, Macklin Celebrini and high-octane offensive winger Jordan Dualais.  Canada is competing in the 5 team “A” division during the round robin VS Finland, Sweden, Germany and Latvia.  The “B” division is lead by the USA, followed by Czechia, Slovakia, the Swiss and Norway.

Team Finland has lower expectations for this year’s tournament despite having 5 returning players.  Kasper Halthunen is in his draft year and had a good start.  As expected, nerves and jittery play had a big effect off the opening faceoff.  Canada looked bigger and faster as the period wore on.  Matt Poitras had a fabulous slot attempt at the 12 minute mark, only to be thwarted by a great glove save from Finn goalie Nikolas Kokko.  The best opportunity for the Finns came after a 2 on 0 was stolen by Canadian goalie Mathis Rouseau also with a spectacular glove save.  As often happens in hockey, the Canadians roared right back and scored the opening goal 30 seconds later.  6’7’’ right D Maveric Lamoreaux sent a high wrister at the net which deflected in off Nate Danielson’s butt – 1 nothing Canada.  Final SOG, Canada 12, Finland 8.

The second period started off with sloppy play forced by a far more aggressive Finnish team.  Lots of giveaways and “too cute” passes.  That lead to the second Finn power play which Canada killed without allowing a shot.  That seemed to spark the Canadian teenagers as they had some opportunities including a breakaway try by Jordan Dumais who hit the post at the 12 minute mark.  Canada finally went up 2-0 when Owen Allard swept in a nice cross-crease pass by Danielson that trickled in off the post, Koko’s skate and in.  A third Finnish PP was converted by a point shot tip in by Kaskimaki.  The period ended up a little chippy as the hate started to grow.  Canada 2-1 – SOG Canada 23-17.

The Finns started the third with a fierce forecheck that penned Team Canada in their own zone on several shifts.  At 13:22 Canada finally got on their own forecheck with resulted in a fierce goalmouth scramble.  Head Coach Alan Letang took the advice of his video team and called for a review on the play.  Sure enough, the replay showed the puck had crossed the line – 3-1 Canada.  Expected first overall pick Macklin Celebrini was credited with the winning goal.  Finland had 3 power play opportunities in this stanza, to no avail.  In fact, they pulled their goalie on the third one only to be called on an illegal change.  With the net empty, Connor Geekie set up Poitras on a close to offside call to up it to 4-1.  A meaningless goal by Finn captain Lasella made it interesting with 1:04 to go but Arizona first round pick Lamoureux scored the final empty netter to close out the game at 5 to 2 Canada.

HOPPER NOTES: Always nice to see and hear Bob Mackenzie back on the TSN panel…Owen Beck was very successful at the playoff dot – especially on the (many) penalty kills…Canada started slowly in each period and then roared back…during the critical goal review, 3500 Canadian fans yelled “Goal, Goal, Goal” in unison as they did the tomahawk chop for accents – they later serenaded us with our favorite “The Summer of ‘69” unprompted …Canadian goalie Rouseau is undrafted…Nate Danielson with the first goal and an assist was named Canada’s player the game …tomorrow it’s Latvia – a 1:30 start…now, get on that exercise bike and burn off some of those Christmas calories… CHEERS!

Who is ready for the best (on best) Hockey Tournament going ?!?

Team Canada Juniors are over in Sweden waiting for their “real” tournament to begin Tuesday (Boxing Day) VS Finland. 9 am TSN.

They shellacked Denmark 8-0 yesterday and then blew out the Swiss 6-3 thanks to Peterborough Petes centre, returnee and potential Captain Owen Beck with 2 goals.

Tomorrow, (11 am TSN) they’ll have one last test against continental rival USA in their final tune up. The last time these two met was when Canada eliminated the USA 6-3 to make it to the Gold Medal game last year. This year will be Team Canada’s chance for a 3peat.

Another strong line-up for Canada was supplemented by Boston Bruins centre Matt Pontras who will anchor the first line. Leaf fans will be watching closely as 1st and second round prospects Fraser Minton and Easton Cowan have made the roster and look to contribute bigtime. The projected first overall pick in 2024, Maklin Celebrini will be looking to cement his position, despite a possible (check from behind) suspension for the first game.

My favorite time of year (family, given em, gettin em) and the WJHC. I I hope y’all follow my return. All the best to you and yours over the holidays. CHEERS !