RED MACHINE AIMS TO ‘PLAY LIKE CANADIANS’
Even without NHL stars, Olympic hockey team has a reputation for playing hard
They looked across the ice and didn’t see Sidney Crosby or Jonathan Toews up front. No Drew Doughty on the blue line and no Carey Price in net, either.
But what the Swiss saw in a Canadian team that would easily cruise by them in the 2018 men’s Olympic tournament opener for both countries was all too familiar.
“Everybody knows Canada is a very good team,” Swiss forward Vincent Praplan said following Canada’s 5-1 win on Thursday. “Even if the NHL guys are not here, there are still many, many good players. They play the same way no matter who is here. They play simple. They play hard.”
You couldn’t heap a higher compliment on a Canadian hockey player and for the management that put this unlikely group together. An Olympic squad in a hurry to establish its identity may have done that by much more than the final score of its opener.
You could see confidence in the Canadians at a Friday practice to prepare for what is expected to be a stouter challenge from the Czech Republic on Saturday.
“I think it’s credit to Hockey Canada and the teams they’ve put together over the years,” said Game 1 hero Rene Bourque, who had a pair of goals and provided the leadership that was expected of him. “They know that if somebody is going to play us, it’s a red machine and we’re going to come after you.
“It doesn’t matter who we play — when you are playing Canada you had better be ready.”
Such talk is likely music to the ears of coach Willie Desjardins.
The Canadian head coach had implored his team to come out with a feisty effort after seeing regression during three exhibition games earlier this month. Some big early hits and a goal less than three minutes into the tournament solved that in a hurry.
“It is a compliment for sure,” rugged fourth-line winger, Rob Klinkhammer said of Canadian hockey’s well-earned reputation. “We talked about that. it doesn’t matter who you are, when you put on this Canadian jersey it’s an honour. All Canadians want to play the right way. We want to play hockey by being physical, checking hard and just doing what we do.”
While it may sound a touch like patriotic brainwash, that mindset has been ingrained in Canadian players for decades, regardless of the stage. And given how wide open this Olympic tournament appears, the potential edge it could provide is crucial.
“Most of us are kind of journeymen who have had to work for everything we’ve had,” Klinkhammer said. “Nobody’s taking this for granted. “Everyone’s cherishing every minute. I never thought it was a possibility to play in the Olympics for Canada. I was never going to take Sidney Crosby’s spot.”
All things considered, the Canadians are in a favourable position heading into their second game. They have certainly set up an opportunity to secure one of the top two spots in Group A and a direct route to the quarter finals.
More importantly, Desjardins sees an ability to improve in every game, crucial in a tournament where there isn’t much time.
The five-goal outburst was welcome but was complemented by some solid play in their own end, particularly an ability by the Canadian defencemen to move the puck up ice with ease. Throw in a couple of power-play goals and some discipline to stay out of the box and it was near ideal.
“I think Canada does have a certain identity,” Desjardins said of the mindset his players have embraced. “We all like that identity and try to live up to that. I do like the feel. There’s a lot of guys here that really care about their country and they want to do well.”
Perhaps the biggest take-away from the game is that the Canadians have dispelled any fear that they don’t belong. There have already been two major upsets, with the Russians and Americans each being on the wrong end of one, with more to come.
“We have to keep getting better,” Desjardins said. “We’ll go out hard every night trying to get our points, but we know there’s good competition and it’s going to be tight.”