Canada gets back on track against Germany
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Joel Hofer didn’t have a lot of time to think about his first-ever start for Canada.
Having learned late Sunday he would get the call to steady the ship at the world junior hockey championship following a disastrous loss just 48 hours earlier, the calm and cool 19-year-old went about his normal routine the best he could.
The only thing was, the pesky butterflies in Hofer’s stomach were fluttering more than usual.
“I had to pop a melatonin so I could sleep,” said Winnipeg native.
The formula worked, and now one of the tournament favourites is back on track.
Hofer made 18 saves, including three key stops in the second period with his team up 1-0, as Canada beat Germany 4-1 at the world juniors on Monday.
Nolan Foote, Liam Foudy and Ty Dellandrea each had a goal and an assist, while Calen Addison also scored for the under-20 national team, which was coming off Saturday’s stunning 6-0 loss to Russia. Jared McIsaac added two assists.
“I was pretty nervous,” Hofer said. “There was a lot of pressure after last game. It was pretty embarrassing for us.”
Having never received an invite from Hockey Canada until selection camp this month, Hofer has been lights out with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks in 2019-20, putting together a resumé that includes 20-4-2 record, a 1.81 goals-against average and .937 save percentage.
“He played phenomenal,” Canadian defenceman Kevin Bahl said. “His confidence is off the charts.”
Nico Daws started the first two games, but has allowed eight goals on 50 shots and was pulled against Russia to open the door for Hofer, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL draft by St. Louis.
Head coach Dale Hunter wouldn’t name his goalie for the team’s round-robin finale New Year’s Eve against the host Czech Republic, but said the plan was always to give Hofer at least one of these games.
“If I get the call,” Hofer said, “I’ll be ready.”
Yannik Valenti broke the shutout bid with 67 seconds left in regulation on a 5-on-3 power play for Germany. Hendrik Hane made 22 stops in defeat.
Canada, which sits with two wins and a loss through three contests, can guarantee top spot in Group B and a more favourable quarter-final draw by beating the Czechs after the U.S. downed Russia on Sunday.
“All of us took a look in the mirror,” Hofer said. “Guys stepped up big.”
The Canadians were minus two-thirds of their top line after Alexis Lafreniere, the projected No. 1 pick at the 2020 draft, suffered a knee injury in that Russian demolition — the country’s most lopsided defeat in the tournament’s 44-year history.
Joe Veleno, meanwhile, served a one-game suspension for a head-butting incident the same night to leave his team with just 11 forwards.
Hockey Canada released a statement saying it disagreed with the decision. Hunter said he’d seen the replay — Veleno barely made contact with the visor of defenceman Danil Misyul — but didn’t really want to comment further.
“You just move on,” he said. “We’ve got a fresh Joe [today]. That’s the positive.”
The other good news is Lafreniere hasn’t been ruled out of the tournament after an MRI revealed no structural damage.