Team Canada coach chooses his goalies
The first major question of Team Canada's world junior camp has been answered, with head coach Andre Tourigny settling on his three goaltenders.
But don't feel badly if you haven't heard of them. Devon Levi, Dylan Garand and Taylor Gauthier aren't exactly household names.
While the Canadians are loaded with star power up front, with the likes of Kirby Dach, Quinton Byfield and Dylan Cozens routinely generating headlines across the country, the trio of netminders is a bit of a mystery.
That might be concerning from the outside looking in, as the Canadians head into a tournament where goaltending can easily win or lose a gold medal, but Tourigny assures everyone the nets are in capable hands.
Besides, most Canadian world junior goaltending heroes distinguish themselves during the tournament, not before it.
“We're really excited about our group,” Tourigny said. “We felt they have a lot more skill than people give them credit for.”
While the Canadians invited 26 first-round picks to camp, none of them are in goal.
Garand went 28-10-3 with four shutouts and a .921 save percentage on the division-leading Kamloops Blazers. He went in the fourth round, 104th overall, to the New York Rangers in the 2020 draft.
Levi is coming off a sensational year (34-2-1, 1.47 goals-against average and .941 save percentage) on a powerful Carleton
Place junior A team. His next stop is Northeastern University. He went in the seventh round, 212th overall, to the Florida Panthers.
Gauthier put up good numbers (.917 save percentage) on a bad Prince George team (20-34-8) and helped Canada to a gold medal at the 2018 Gretzky-hlinka Cup in Edmonton, coming off the bench with the score 2-0 Sweden early in the first period.
The 19-year-old is undrafted.
“I think they all bring something a little bit different in terms of their style,” Tourigny said.
“I think Gauts has a lot of athleticism. He's a big goalie, as well. Garand has really, really good hands, he's really quick. Same thing for Levi, he's really fast and a little bit bigger. He moves side to side, his legs are really quick. They all bring something a little bit different.”
Camp began with five goaltenders, but when Brett Brochu and Tristan Lennox were cut Thursday morning, Levi, Gauthier and Garand were the first three players to make the team officially. The coaches came up with a brilliant way to break the news.
“They woke me up and called me down to the lobby,” said Levi, who thought there might be an axe waiting for him. “I knew there were cuts this morning, so
It was a huge relief and a dream come true — hearing it from my parents, who've been supporting me since I was a kid.
it was a bit nerve-racking.
“The computer was on with my parents on Zoom. The coaches were all around. My parents told me. It was a huge relief and a dream come true — hearing it from my parents, who've been supporting me since I was a kid.”
It was a special experience, to be sure.
“It was definitely pretty emotional, a moment I'll never forget,” Garand added. “Having your parents tell you your dream is coming true and how much it means to them. Super-cool moment.”
In addition to the two goalies, five skaters were released from camp: Adam Beckman, Tyson Foerster, Hendrix Lapierre, Cole Schwindt and Shane Wright.
That leaves 34 players in camp.