When I first tuned in to TSN, expecting to see the pre-game show of the Canada/ Czechia game, I instead saw the third period of the Finland/Slovakia. I searched around the various feeds – NADA. I mean the Finn game was good with late third period goals to send it to overtime, but the Canada game was already in progress ! Thankfully the Finns made quick work of the Slovaks as their captain went end to end to win the game 4-3.
We finally got to the game we all wanted to see at 8:45 am at around the 5 minute mark with Canada ahead 5 shots to 1.
The Czechians seemed quite a bit faster than the Canucks, quickly breaking out with stretch passes. At the 12 minute mark, Stancel was the recipient of one of those passes and snapped in a goal short side from the upper playoff circle. I wouldn’t call it a soft goal, but Mathis Rouseau had made plenty of routine stops earlier in the tournament. The Czechs were relentless, using their head man speed. This resulted in another breakaway, in which Noah Warren had to reach in and cause a penalty shot. Nice save. A deep forecheck and sloppy passing led to Czechia scoring on a long slapper through traffic with 2 minutes left. Now that was a soft one. Oh and remember when we tuned in and it was 5-1 Canada in SOG ? The final 15 minutes were dominated by 8 consecutive Czech shots – making the final 9-6.
WOW ! What a difference an intermission can make. After a rather discouraging first period, Canada came out with their hair on fire. Rouseau made a 10 bell save early to send off Yager to Cowan to 13th forward Mathew Wood who cut the lead in half. The tables had turned. The momentum from the Canadians equated to crisp breakouts, puck possession and a strong forecheck. A great example of that forecheck led to the tying goal as Jay Furlong wristed his first of the tourney high glove side, thanks to a strong screen provided by Conor Geekie. Canada had 12 sots and several chances throughout that turn around period.
Team Canada carried their dominance into the final period, at one point out shooting the Czechs 14 to 3 and out chancing them by a mile. They simply owned the puck. UNTIL a Czech shot directed at the net went off a skate, off the post and in with just 11 seconds left. No justice or rewards for our young Canadians on this day.
HOPPER NOTES: The three top Canadians for the Tournament were Denton Matchuk, Macklin Cellebrini and Maveric Lamoreaux…Denton was also voted Canada’s player of the game…this will be my final column – enjoy the rest of the tournament everyone – cheers !