Canada WJC 2017            

             

Coming into the IIHF 2017 World Junior Hockey Championships, team Canada looked like a powerhouse compared to the United States and the deadly team Sweden. Canada was looking for a bounce back year after their disappointing sixth place finish at the 2016 contest in Helsinki, Finland. Canada had five returning players from 2016: Captain Dylan Strome, Mathew Barzal, Julien Gautier, Mitchell Stephens, and top notch defenseman Thomas Chabot. While the players that would fill out the skater side of the team seemed quite solid, the same was not true in net. The coaches had three inexperienced goalies to choose from: Carter Hart, Connor Ingram, and Michael McNiven.     .

 

Canada had a strong division going into the tournament, they had to compete against a tough Russian team and a competitive United States team. Canada played very well in the pre-tournament games finishing with three wins and one loss, their only loss came against their bitter cross border rivals: the United States of America.

 

Canada’s road to the gold would be very tough as each game would be fiercely contested. Canada’s quarter-final game would be against a rejuvenated Czech Republic squad. To the dismay of the Canadian fans, the Czech Republic led 1-0 thanks to lethal forward David Kase beating goalie Connor Ingram. In the 2nd period team Canada went out guns blazing scoring in the first minute. Canada was able to maintain this mentality by scoring 2 more goals. However Czech Republic forward Tomas Soustal was able to score in the waning seconds of the 2nd period. In the 3rd period goalie Connor Ingram let in yet another goal, courtesy of Simon Stransky to tie the game. However, the canadians were able to score 2 quick goals and held on for the win. Canada 5 Czech Republic 3.

 

Canada had to play again, this time it was against a quick skating Swedish team who came first in their group. There was uncertainty on who would be in between the pipes for team Canada because of Connor Ingram’s poor performance against the Czechs. As the opening warm up for team Canada ended the team decided  that Connor Ingram would start in goal. Team Canada depended on offence and they did not disappoint, scoring 2 goals very early in the game, unfortunately, Sweden was able to score 2 goals as well  before the 1st period ended, Ingram was pulled for allowing those goals to get past him. In the 2nd period, backup goalie Carter Hart was in the goal crease for Canada. Canada had the momentum when the first period ended and they were able to maintain by scoring breaking the tie game and playing strong defense as well, even Carter Hart was playing well. When the 2nd period ended Canada maintained their 1 goal lead going into the third and final period. Sweden couldn’t do anything right, they played poorly allowing 2 goals early in the 3rd period. Sweden failed to score any goals in both the 2nd and 3rd periods and lost 5-2. Canada would have to play the United States for the gold medal.

Canada decided to continue with Carter Hart between the pipes because he played very well against Sweden, The United States went with reliable goalie Tyler Parsons. As the puck dropped to start the game tensions were high. Canada was playing very well scoring twice in the first period only to watch the United States score two as well. In the second period Canada’s offence was playing very nicely scoring twice again in against goalie Tyler Parsons to end he second period. Much to Canada’s dismay, the U.S came back from yet another two goal lead to tie the game. Canada had an oppurtunity to take the lead in the final minute when canadian forward Pierre Luc-Dubois missed a empty net. Overtime couldn’t decide the game so it was extended to a shootout. Both Canada’s and the United States goalies were exhausted and it showed, United States forward Troy Terry was able to score thanks to a weak effort by goalie Carter Hart. The United States of America were world junior champions for 2017.