Canada Tops Latvia in Tournament Opener

 

Photo From Globe and Mail

After having the 2022 World Junior tournament canceled due to a covid outbreak the tournament has thankfully returned here in the month of August. Tonight, the host Canadians would open their summer tournament against Latvia who had earned a spot due to Russia being banned from international competition after starting their attack on Ukraine. The tournament this summer does unfortunately have a big name missing regarding Canada’s roster as Shane Wright who was selected 4^th overall by Seattle, he is skipping this event because he wanted to prepare for training camp with the Kraken. Canada does still have plenty of talent on their roster as Anaheim Ducks prospect Mason McTavish is taking part in the tournament and we also get to see Regina Pats star and projected first overall pick in the next NHL Draft Connor Bedard.

Canada would give the game 1 start to Edmonton Oil Kings netminder Sebastian Cossa who made an appearance in the second half of a pretournament game the other night, a 4-3 win over Sweden. The first period of this game would see Canada apply pressure early on forcing Latvian goalie Patricks Berzins to make some very important saves early on because Canada started applying pressure right from the very start. The host team would open the scoring as Connor Bedard would have possession in the offensive zone he would walk to the top of the slot and fire a wrist shot by the glove hand of Berzins and into the back of the net and team Canada would have the early 1-0 lead. With Canada leading I am sure everyone watching thought the flood gates would open as Canada would have an overwhelming advantage in the shot category, but Berzins would continue to make great save after great save keeping the Canadian advantage at one. With the first intermission just a few minutes away and everyone thinking Canada would have a lead after the opening twenty minutes Latvia would have other ideas as they would surprise Canada by scoring to tie the game at ones on just their fourth shot of the game, but Rainers Derzins would level the game as his shot would beat a surprised Cossa and these two teams would finish the opening period with the game tied at one a piece.

Period two would see Canada take control of the game but it didn’t get off to the greatest of starts for Canada. They would head to the powerplay within the first five minutes, but Canada would be unorganized unable to set up in the Latvian zone and this would work in favor for Latvia as they would hold Canada to no shots, but they would test Cossa with a few high-quality scoring chances. Canada would survive their sluggish first powerplay and the Canadians would head back to the power play just two minutes later and this time they wouldn’t disappoint. On their second powerplay Canada would be able to set up the powerplay allowing them to show off their great puck moving ability and Lukas Cormier would send a wrist shot from the point that would find the back of the net thanks to a great screen in front and Canada would regain the lead 2-1. Canada would once again begin to apply more pressure and with fifteen minutes played in the second Latvia would find themselves playing short handed once again and Canada would capitalize on the opportunity as another defender would find the back of the net growing Canada’s lead to 3-1. The onslaught by Canada would continue when just one minute later Canada would score their fourth goal of the night when we witnessed an early candidate for goal of the tournament when William Dufour would chip the puck into the neutral zone to Ridley Greig who would use his speed pulling away from the Latvian defender before sliding the puck through the pads of Berzins one handed and after forty minutes of action Canada would have a comfortable 4-1 lead as they would now prepare for the third and final period.

Period three would see Canada run into some penalty trouble when just thirty seconds into the period Mason McTavish would be called for a boarding minor that Canada would manage to kill off but just prior to five minutes played in the period Canada would be shorthanded due to a tripping minor. With the faceoff in Canada’s zone Latvia would need just four seconds to find the back of the net as Cossa lost site of the puck as Bogdans Hodass would find the back of the net with a slap shot cutting Canada’s lead to 4-2. Canada would continue to have penalty troubles as they would go down two men giving Latvia an opportunity to continue their comeback. Team Canada however would manage to kill off Latvia’s 5 on 3 advantage and they would put this game to bed as William Defour would light the lamp for the final time and Canada would open this tournament with a well-deserved win. Canada will have a quick turnaround as they find themselves in action Thursday night when they face Slovakia. I will be back after that game with another write up.

 

Thanks as always for reading.