Eriks Mateiko scored the one purpose of the shootout as Latvia shocked an alarmingly uninspired Canada 3-2 on the world junior hockey championship Friday.
The ahead moved in on his nation’s eighth effort earlier than firing dwelling a purpose to register one of many greatest upsets in event historical past.
Mateiko and Peteris Bulans scored in regulation for the hard-working Europeans of their first recreation of the 10-team showcase within the nation’s capital. Linards Feldbergs stopped 54 pictures over 65 minutes. Bruno Osmanis had two assists.
Calum Ritchie and Jett Luchanko replied the event hosts, who’re coming off a disappointing fifth-place end final yr in Sweden. Jack Ivankovic made 24 saves.
Canada, which goes for its twentieth gold medal, entered with a 4-0 document and a mixed 41-4 scoreboard edge all-time in opposition to Latvia on the occasion, together with a 10-0 victory some 12 months in the past.
Sudden shootout
After the Latvians tied the sport 1-1 on a person benefit within the third interval, Ritchie blasted a one-timer upstairs off an Easton Cowan feed.
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 on the ice in 3-on-3 extra time, however survived that short-handed scenario to drive the shootout not many noticed coming earlier than the opening faceoff.
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 bought right into a interval of motion at age 17 in 1999.
The goaltender from Mississauga, Ont., began rather than Carter George on the tail finish of a back-to-back after he made 31 saves in a 4-0 victory over Finland in Thursday’s opener.
Extra preparation taken this yr
Hockey Canada’s mind belief led by Peter Anholt spoke earlier than the event about how the group was significantly better ready this time round following the disastrous efficiency in Gothenburg that noticed the powerhouse bounced by Czechia within the quarterfinals.
The teaching workers led by Dave Cameron was in place early, whereas this system additionally held a summer time camp and employed a full-time scout.
The administration group insisted all of the items have been in place. There have been, in brief, no excuses.
Canada, nevertheless, did not have many solutions in opposition to one of many sport’s minnows on Friday 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 damage to star defenceman Matthew Schaefer — a 17-year-old potential prime choose on the 2025 NHL draft — after he crashed into the Latvian internet on an influence play off the frenzy.
Ivankovic needed to be sharp on a few penalty kills and one other probability in alone off the stick of Olivers Murnieks. Issues did not enhance a lot from there.
Unchallenged center ice
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 ability play in opposition to Finland, dropped to 0-for-6 later within the interval after two largely lifeless man benefits.
Along with his group seemingly content material to remain on the skin and never problem the Latvians for the center of the ice — an unlucky hallmark of the nation’s 2024 iteration — Cameron lit into his gamers on the bench late within the interval.
The group at Canadian Tire Centre tried to carry the nation’s youngsters halfway by way of the third interval, however the group continued to seek for solutions that merely weren’t there to be discovered.
Canadian defenceman Andrew Gibson then took an elbowing penalty to arrange Mateiko’s equalizer with 6:42 left in regulation earlier than Ritchie and Mateiko traded objectives late.
Younger weapons
Cameron mentioned earlier than the sport Canada’s trio of 17 yr olds — Gavin McKenna, Ivankovic and Schaefer do not get particular age-related remedy.
“If we thought they wanted any particular service, they in all probability would not belong on the group,” mentioned Cameron, answerable for the world junior bench for a 3rd time. “We do not need any further obstacles like having to pamper guys by way of eventualities. We have got sufficient work to do as it’s.
“As a lot as they’re younger, they’re mature.”
Latvia faces the U.S. on Saturday. Canada meets Germany on Sunday.
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