Canada’s junior goalies working on mind game
TORONTO — The alarm bells have been as loud as goal horns in recent years.
Any way you slice it, Canada’s goaltending at the world junior championship hasn’t been great during a four-year gold medal drought.
Now with the Philadelphia Flyers, Steve Mason was the last Canadian puck stopper to be named the best at his position and that was during the 2008 tourney.
Mark Visentin, Scott Wedgewood and Malcolm Subban have been the target of criticism for their performances in the past three events.
Team Canada is hoping that was then and this is now.
“Being a goaltender there’s going to be pressure no matter what the circumstances,” Jake Paterson said. “What’s happened in the past is out of our control. So we’re just looking to have good exhibition games here and take it day by day.”
Paterson, a member of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit and a prospect of the Detroit Red Wings, makes up one half of this year’s tandem.
Zach Fucale, who backstops the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL and was a second-round pick by Mont- real in the 2013 NHL draft, is the other netminder.
“If it’s me starting or him starting, we’re going to be playing for the team and winning,” Fucale said.
Team Canada is permitted to have three goalies on their roster, but is only bringing two to Europe.
Head coach Brent Sutter said other junior goaltenders are being evaluated, but a third hasn’t been decided on. That netminder would only travel to Sweden if there is an injury.
As he did at the start of camp, Sutter reiterated Sunday that he’ll need to use Paterson and Fucale if Canada is to claim gold. With the elimination of the direct bye into a semifinal match, teams must play seven games to win the tournament.
The man tasked with helping the pair is goaltending consultant Fred Brathwaite.
Brathwaite, a former NHL and national team netminder, said he doesn’t want to change much structurally about either player’s style.
Instead, he’s stressing the mental side of the game. “Obviously, they’re on the big stage here. I want them to be playing like they are on their normal teams and not think too much about the emblem on their shirt.”