Canada’s junior squad gets back to winning
Juniors can clinch group with victory over host Czechs
Joel Hofer was nervous.
Fortunately for Canada, it was hard to tell at the world junior hockey championship.
The goaltender made 18 saves, a handful of the spectacular variety, in his first international start to back Canada to a redeeming 4-1 victory over Germany before 6,102 Monday at Ostravar Arena.
“I was definitely thinking about it,” the 19-year-old from Winnipeg said. “I had to pop a melatonin to get a good night’s sleep (Sunday after getting the nod). There was a lot of pressure after last game. It was pretty embarrassing for us. As a group, we bounced back and, overall, a really good win.”
Everyone can rest easy now. Canada can clinch first place in its ultracompetitive pool with a victory Tuesday over the host Czechs. They put the humiliating 6-0 loss to Russia behind them along with: an injury to their best player Alexis Lafreniere; Barret Hayton’s Helmetgate apology; and the International Ice Hockey Federation’s decision to suspend veteran forward Joe Veleno one game for a head-butting incident that was little more than a clinking of visors.
That’s a lot to process in a couple of days.
“They were disappointed in their performance,” Canadian coach Dale Hunter said. “They all were. They put it behind them. They had to come out and put their work boots on and just work and good things will happen.”
It certainly helped to have Hofer.
With the game up for grabs in the second period, the six-footfive Portland Winterhawks netminder stared down 17-year-old German sniper John Peterka and pulled off a glove robbery.
The momentum pendulum swung in Canada’s favour. It tacked on two more goals and leaned on its stout defence the rest of the way.
“He got the call and stepped up,” appreciative Canadian defenceman Kevin Bahl said.
“I’m proud for him. He’s the MVP of the game, obviously, but in my eyes he’s a brick wall.”
The Germans finally broke through on the power play with just 1:07 left in the game.
“Every goalie wants a shutout,” Hofer said. “We got the win. That was most important.”
Nico Daws, Canada’s starter the first two games, served as backup. He was lifted early in the second against Russia in favour of Hofer.
According to Hunter, the coaching staff has yet to decide who will start against the Czechs.
“It was a good time to put him in,” he said of Hofer. “We gave him a couple of 2-on-1s and a broken stick breakaway. He stood tall for us and that was a crucial part of the game.”
Lafreniere’s availability for the rest of the tournament is up in the air.
Earlier in the day, Hockey Canada shot back at the IIHF in a statement, calling the suspension to Veleno unworthy, while expressing its disappointment in the disciplinary panel’s decision.
“(The players) handled it very well,” Hunter said. “You’re always going to get a suspension like that. You don’t want it to happen. That’s their call and you move on. That’s the rules and we’ve got a fresh Joe (Tuesday). That’s a positive sign.”
Hayton caused a stir by leaving his helmet on for the Russian anthem, a breach of international protocol. Two days later, the captain was held pointless, but led Canada in ice time (21 minutes 48 seconds), won 15 of 24 draws, recorded three shots and was plus-1.
“That sucks,” linemate Nolan Foote said of Hayton’s helmet flap. “He just completely blanked with that. You see all the stuff on social media and it comes up. It’s definitely challenging. We responded well from the Russian game.
“We have to come out the same way we did here (against the Czechs).”
An early goal helps.
Foote fired home Canada’s only first-period tally of the event so far to jump in front.
Up to that point, the Canadians had been outscored by a combined 5-0 by the Americans and Russians during the opening 20 minutes.
“It means a lot,” Hunter said. “They (Germany) are a good, well-coached team. They’re stingy defensively and if you get the first one, it kind of opens it up for the rest of the game.”