DiPietro says team lost ‘with dignity’
Canucks draft pick gets fans’ unwavering support despite painful loss
He was the fan favourite until the last second.
Goaltender Michael DiPietro, a Vancouver Canucks draft pick from Windsor, Ont., heard his name chanted by a crowd 17,000 strong in the second period of Canada’s quarterfinal game against Finland Wednesday.
He didn’t let in a goal until the last minute of the third period — a goal that tied the game 1-1. Then heartbreak set in 5:17 into overtime when Toni Utunen, another Canucks prospect playing for Finland, scored to give Finland a 2-1 win in a stunning comeback that eliminated Canada from the 2019 world junior hockey championship.
DiPietro immediately collapsed on the ice in front of him after the goal went in. As Team Finland congregated behind his net in celebration, all DiPietro’s Canadian teammates lined up to hug him one-by-one.
Then the arena chanted his name in unison, not in celebration this time, but in a show of unwavering support in the face of defeat.
Speaking to reporters after the game, DiPietro said the feeling of defeat isn’t one he’ll soon for- get.
“One play doesn’t really affect a game, but it’s funny how one millisecond can really turn the tide,” he said. “We lost, and we’re still going to act as professionals and lose with dignity.”
Fans were lined up as early 1:30 p.m. for the doors of the arena to open for the highstakes 3:30 game.
Laithan Ganam-Stuart, 12, waited outside the gate where the team buses arrive in hopes of getting DiPietro’s signature.
He came prepared with a sign that read: “DiPietro is basically God.”
“I just really like Michael DiPietro. I think he’s a very good goaltending prospect and I wanted to show that and hopefully he could sign my sign,” Ganam-Stuart said.
Michelle Goetz and her kids Justin, 11, Breanna, 14, and Courtney, 16 went to the morning’s relegation game and were first in line to get back into the arena for the Canada game.
The mom said the family was confident in a Canada win despite the team’s round-robin loss against Russia Monday.
“We’re hoping it will motivate Canada today,” she said while waiting for the doors to open. “I think we needed a loss to give us a push.”
Daughter Courtney has been to all the Vancouver games so far — she said it means a lot to have the tournament in town for the first time since 2006.
“We were too young to go last time. He (my brother Justin) wasn’t even born yet,” she said. “It’s great to have it here because we watch in on TV always.”
Though the result wasn’t what Canadian fans were hoping for, some point out the tournament has lots to offer Canadian fans — whatever team is playing.
Dale Saip, senior vice-presi- dent of the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants, said sometimes Canada feels “entitled” to a win when the world juniors are played on home turf.
But, he said, if Canada won all the time, hockey would miss out on great players from other countries.
“You want everybody to have some successes,” Saip said. “We need some of these other countries to win every once in a while.”
Niklas Puustinen and mother Paula, brother and mom of Team Finland forward Valtteri Puustinen, said before the game began that they enjoyed visiting B.C. for the first time, especially the “very friendly” people.
“After the game they’ll be screaming then because Finland is going to kick some ass,” Niklas Puustinen predicted.