Peter Anholt tried to maintain issues mild as he emerged from one of many elevators at Canada’s lodge.
The temperature had been turned manner up on the veteran hockey govt and the nation’s under-20 program after a shocking upset some 12 hours earlier.
“You solely wish to discuss to me when issues are dangerous, eh?” Anholt joked to reporters Saturday morning.
“Is that how this works?”
That’s certainly what occurs when a powerhouse with a report 20 gold medals anticipated to roll over an opponent suffers one in all its worst all-time defeats on the match.
Canada was embarrassed on house soil 3-2 by Latvia — a rustic it had thumped by a mixed 41-4 rating throughout 4 earlier conferences — in a surprising shootout Friday.
Coming off a disastrous fifth-place end final 12 months in Sweden and having talked so much about upping their compete degree and preparation, the Canadians regarded disjointed for lengthy stretches in opposition to the plucky, hard-working Latvians.
Energy-play struggles
The ability play lastly clicked late within the third interval, however stands at 1-for-7 via two video games, whereas the highest line of Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau has but to translate its pre-tournament chemistry into success within the highlight.
“We’re definitely attempting to drawback clear up, however not throw the child out with the tub water,” stated Anholt, who heads the world junior setup. “We have to be actually cautious.”
Canada, which picked up a strong 4-0 victory over Finland to open its match Thursday, had loads of offensive zone time and directed 57 pictures at Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs. Included in that whole, nevertheless, had been far too many one-and-done efforts from the perimeter with little site visitors in entrance.
There have been, after all, determined spurts — particularly late in regulation and in 3-on-3 additional time — however not almost sufficient for a roster peppered with first-round NHL draft picks and prime prospects.
“We performed actually, actually exhausting,” Anholt stated in defending his gamers. “We managed the puck heaps. We created some probabilities. Their goalie was actually good and so they defended actually good … 99 instances out of 100 we win that recreation.”
Hoping for a giant response Sunday in opposition to Germany earlier than assembly the USA on New 12 months’s Eve to tie a bow on round-robin motion in Group A, Canada should push forward minus one in all its finest gamers.
Star defenceman Matthew Schaefer was injured Friday and is completed for the match after he slammed into Latvia’s web and skated off favouring his left shoulder space.
“Robust blow for the child,” Anholt stated. “The way in which he performs the sport, he performs it at such a excessive pace.”
Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round choice, stated Canada stays assured regardless of Friday’s ugly end result within the nation’s capital.
“We’re good,” stated the 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont. “Everybody’s misplaced a hockey recreation earlier than.”
However not like that — or to that opponent on that stage.
“Little bit of a [crappy] feeling,” stated Nadeau, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect from St-Francois-de-Madawaska, N.B. “Everyone knows what this group is able to. Shedding that recreation is just not our commonplace.
“We’ll bounce again.”
Some corners of social media exploded following the Latvian debacle, with heavy criticism directed at head coach Dave Cameron and the workforce’s general roster development.
“We’re not likely nervous about it,” defenceman and Ottawa native Oliver Bonk, who like Cowan is again from final 12 months’s workforce, stated of the surface noise. “We all know we did not play properly.”
Altering issues up in opposition to Germany
Canada seems poised to combine issues up in opposition to the Germans. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., is ready to attract in for Schaefer, whereas Anholt indicated there is a good likelihood ahead Carson Rehkopf will get his first crack on the 2025 match as a returnee.
The 19-year-old Seattle Kraken second-round decide from Vaughan, Ont., has scored a mixed 78 objectives over his final 97 regular-season and playoff video games within the Ontario Hockey League.
“Nice participant,” Cowan stated. “He finds methods.”
Anholt stated taking a big-picture method is vital in difficult moments.
“Let’s not panic,” he stated. “The world hasn’t fallen in. It is exhausting, however we’ll study from it.”
It is one thing Canada should do below intense scrutiny.
“Persons are gonna love you and persons are gonna hate you,” stated Cowan, who has a purpose and an help via two video games. “Gotta hold doing you.”
Anholt, who was additionally on the helm 12 months in the past when Canada by no means acquired in gear, is not getting 2024 vibes from this 12 months’s group.
“Not even in any manner, form or type,” he stated. “We have simply acquired to handle enterprise.”
They get a primary shot at redemption Sunday.
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