Key Takeaways
- Canada leads Latvia 1-0 after two periods in their World Junior Championship preliminary round matchup
- Cole Reschny scored the lone goal on a five-minute major power play
- Canada’s goaltender Jack Ivankovic has stopped all 16 shots he’s faced so far
- Canada is seeking revenge against Latvia, who upset them in a shootout last year
- The Canadians will face Denmark on Monday and Finland on New Year’s Eve to wrap up the preliminary round
Introduction to the Matchup
The World Junior Championship is underway, and Canada is off to a strong start. In their preliminary round matchup against Latvia on Saturday night, Canada holds a narrow 1-0 lead after two periods. The game, being played in Minneapolis, has seen its fair share of penalties, with both teams being forced to kill off lengthy power plays. However, it was Canada who capitalized on their opportunity, with Cole Reschny scoring the lone goal of the game so far.
The Goal and Penalties
The goal came on a five-minute major power play, which was awarded to Canada when Martins Klaucans caught Zayne Parekh up high with a check to the head. Klaucans was ejected from the game upon review, giving Canada a lengthy man-advantage. Canada’s coach, Dale Hunter, must have been pleased with his team’s discipline, as they were able to capitalize on the power play and take the lead. However, Canada was soon forced to kill off a penalty of their own, when Ben Danford caught a Latvia player up high with his stick, drawing a double-minor. Despite being shorthanded, Canada’s defense held strong, and they were able to maintain their one-goal lead.
Goaltending and Shots on Net
Canada’s goaltender, Jack Ivankovic, has been solid in net, stopping all 16 shots he’s faced so far. The Canadians, on the other hand, have had 24 shots on net, but have only been able to find the back of the net once. Latvia’s goaltender has been equally impressive, making several key saves to keep his team in the game. As the game heads into the final period, it will be interesting to see if Canada can add to their lead, or if Latvia can find a way to tie the game.
Previous Matches and Revenge
Canada got their tournament started on Boxing Day with a 7-5 victory over Czechia. The win was a welcome one, as the Czechs had eliminated Canada in the quarterfinals in back-to-back years. Canada is also seeking revenge against Latvia, who recorded one of the biggest preliminary round upsets in recent World Junior history with a 3-2 shootout victory over Canada exactly one year ago in Ottawa. The Canadians will be looking to make a statement and prove that they are a team to be reckoned with in this year’s tournament.
Upcoming Matches
The Canadians will get Sunday off before resuming round-robin play on Monday against Denmark. They will then wrap up the preliminary round on New Year’s Eve against Finland. These matches will be crucial in determining Canada’s seeding in the tournament, and they will need to come out strong if they hope to make a deep run. With their narrow lead over Latvia, Canada will be looking to add to their goal total and secure a win, before turning their attention to their upcoming matches. As the tournament heats up, Canada will need to bring their A-game if they hope to come out on top.