Bundle up: USA-Canada rivalry going outdoors
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. » Whether it’s indoors or now outdoors, Canada coach Dominique Ducharme doesn’t expect the bitter elements to chill the cross-border hockey rivalry his nation has developed against the United States.
“We’re rivals. It’s always been tight games. And we expect a tight game tomorrow,” Ducharme said Thursday, after Canada’s junior team held a brief practice on the temporary rink built on the turf of the NFL Buffalo Bills’ home, New Era Field. “Yes, it’s going to be played outdoors. But once it starts, game on.”
Bundle up, because Canada and the United States are taking their differences outside on Friday, when the teams meet in the preliminary round of the 10-nation world junior hockey championship. It will be the first international game played outdoors and is expected to draw more than 40,000 fans, which would set an International Ice Hockey Federation attendance record.
It’s also expected to be cold, with temperatures forecast to range between 15 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit once the puck drops at 3 p.m.
After the Americans tested the outdoor ice on Wednesday, it was the Canadians’ turn under a bright, blue sky on Thursday.
It felt just like home, Canadian goalie Carter Hart said, recalling the many times he spent skating on a large outdoor rink in the backyard of Canada teammate Sam Steel’s home outside of Edmonton, Alberta.
“Feeling that kind of cold air and runny noses, and cold feet: It was really cool,” said Hart, who wore black tape under his eyes to help deflect the sun.
Hart, a Flyers draft pick, will get the start in his first meeting against the Americans
since allowing Troy Terry’s deciding shootout goal in Canada’s 5-4 loss in the championship game at Montreal in January.
“Honestly, I’m not too worried about that right now,” Hart said. “It’s over and done with.”
Though Canada holds a 33-10-3 edge over the United States at the world junior tournament, the Americans have been on a run of late. The U.S. has won the past three meetings, and split the past 10 games since a 6-5 overtime win over Canada in the 2010 championship game.