Dave Cameron stepped in entrance of the microphones and tried to spin what had simply unfolded.
A parade of Canadian gamers then proceeded to tow the corporate line after a jaw-dropping loss on the world junior hockey championship.
Tanner Molendyk snapped this system and nation again to actuality.
Eriks Mateiko scored the one objective of the shootout Friday as Latvia surprised an alarmingly uninspired Canada 3-2 within the powerhouse nation’s yard.
“They battled,” stated Cameron, the Canadian head coach. “Credit score to them.”
Molendyk, an alternate captain, was requested later about his feelings following an embarrassing loss to a rustic the hosts had outscored 41-4 in 4 earlier conferences on the under-20 event.
“Devastating,” stated the defenceman from McBride, B.C.
“An eye fixed-opener,” Molendyk added later. “It’s not one you wish to lose, not one you see your self dropping.”
That’s precisely what occurred.
Mateiko, who additionally scored within the third interval for the plucky Latvians, moved in on his nation’s eighth shootout try earlier than firing the puck dwelling to register one of many largest upsets in world junior historical past.
“We discovered a approach,” stated head coach Artis Abols, who picked up simply his nation’s third victory in 38 all-time contests on the event. “In a single hockey recreation, all the pieces is feasible.”
Peteris Bulans had the opposite objective in regulation for the hard-working Europeans of their first look at this yr’s 10-team showcase. Linards Feldbergs stopped 55 pictures over 65 minutes earlier than including eight extra within the shootout.
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Bruno Osmanis had two assists for the Latvians, who misplaced 10-0 to Canada some 12 months in the past.
“Loopy,” Feldbergs stated.
“Can’t consider what we did. I’m nonetheless in shock.”
Calum Ritchie and Jett Luchanko replied for the Canadians, who’re coming off a disappointing fifth-place end final yr in Sweden. Jack Ivankovic made 24 saves.
“Not the most effective feeling,” stated Ritchie, a product of Oakville, Ont.
“We’re gonna bounce again.”
After the Latvians tied the sport 1-1 on a person benefit within the third interval, Ritchie blasted a one-timer upstairs.
However Canada’s Ethan Gauthier was whistled for hooking with simply over three minutes to go and Bulans tied it on that energy play with 2:29 left.
Canada took a penalty for too many males in a 3-on-3 extra time session that included loads of alternatives, however survived that short-handed scenario to power the shootout not many noticed coming earlier than the opening faceoff.
“It sucks to lose,” Canadian captain Brayden Yager stated. “However now we’re gonna be taught from it.”
Latvia’s Eriks Mateiko (left) celebrates his game-winning shootout objective towards Canada with Toms Mots (12) and Davids Livsics (7) in IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary spherical motion in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Ivankovic is simply the third 17-year-old goaltender to play for Canada on the under-20 event, and the primary to start out a recreation since Jimmy Waite in 1987. Brian Finley received right into a interval of motion at age 17 in 1999.
The goaltender from Mississauga, Ont., began instead of Carter George on the tail finish of a back-to-back after he made 31 saves in a 4-0 victory over Finland within the nation’s Group A opener Thursday.
“I’m simply being a goalie,” Ivankovic stated. “I don’t assume age actually issues.”
Hockey Canada’s mind belief spoke earlier than these world juniors about how the group was significantly better ready following the disastrous efficiency in Gothenburg that noticed them ousted by Czechia within the quarterfinals.
The teaching workers led by Cameron was put in early. This system additionally held a summer season camp and employed a full-time scout.
Administration insisted all of the items had been in place. There have been, in brief, no excuses.
Canada, nonetheless, didn’t have many solutions towards one of many sport’s minnows regardless of dressing 11 first-round NHL picks and three different gamers anticipated to go excessive on the subsequent two drafts.
A disjointed efficiency within the opening 20 minutes was marked by an harm to star defenceman Matthew Schaefer — a 17-year-old potential No. 1 choice in June — after he crashed into the Latvian internet.
Issues didn’t enhance a lot from there.
Canada did get on the board 3:28 into the center interval when Luchanko stole a puck on a penalty kill and scored on a breakaway after Feldbergs determined to remain in his crease.
The Canadians, 0-for-3 on the facility play towards Finland, dropped to 0-for-6 later within the second after two largely lifeless man benefits.
“We had our alternatives, however we simply didn’t end,” Molendyk stated. “A whole lot of our effort leads as much as that.”
Together with his workforce seemingly content material to remain on the surface and never problem the Latvians for the center of the ice – an unlucky hallmark of the nation’s failed 2024 iteration – Cameron lit into his gamers on the bench.
The group at Canadian Tire Centre tried to raise their youngsters halfway by means of the third, however the group continued to seek for solutions that merely weren’t there to be discovered.
Canadian defenceman Andrew Gibson took an elbowing penalty to arrange Mateiko’s equalizer that made it 1-1 with 6:42 left in regulation earlier than Ritchie and Mateiko traded late objectives.
The Latvians then shocked the hockey world within the shootout.
“There’s much more we may give,” Molendyk stated. “We all know that within the room. Each man’s received one other gear.
“We haven’t hit that but.”
Canada higher get there quickly.
Up subsequent
Latvia faces america on Saturday. Canada meets Germany on Sunday.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
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