Key Takeaways
- Jack Ivankovic will start in goal for Team Canada in the quarter-final against Slovakia
- Carter George, who has started three of four games for Canada, has an.844 save percentage and allowed 10 goals in the tournament
- Canada is heavily favored against Slovakia, but has been eliminated in back-to-back quarter-finals in the past two tournaments
- Canada has a dominant record against Slovakia at the World Juniors, with 16 wins and one tie in 17 meetings
Introduction to the Quarter-Finals
The stage is set for the quarter-finals of the World Juniors, and Team Canada is gearing up to face off against Slovakia. In a surprise move, Jack Ivankovic was the first goaltender off the ice at Team Canada’s morning skate, indicating that he will get the start in tonight’s crucial game. This decision comes after Carter George, who has started three of four games for the Canadians, had a less-than-stellar performance in the team’s previous game against Finland. George allowed four goals on 18 shots, bringing his total goals allowed at the tournament to 10 and earning him an.844 save percentage.
Goaltender Decision
The decision to start Ivankovic is not entirely unexpected, given his solid performance in his only start of the tournament so far. On December 27, Ivankovic allowed just one goal on 27 shots in a narrow 2-1 overtime win for Canada against Latvia. Head coach Dale Hunter praised Ivankovic’s abilities, stating that "Jack’s been solid. He’s had a good year with his team and he’s come in and been solid the whole time." While Hunter did not explicitly confirm his goaltender plans after the morning skate, the fact that Ivankovic was the first off the ice suggests that he will indeed get the start against Slovakia.
Historical Context
Canada’s matchup against Slovakia may seem like a straightforward affair, given the team’s dominant record against the Slovaks at the World Juniors. In 17 meetings, Canada has emerged victorious 16 times, with only one tie to its name. However, the past few tournaments have shown that Canada can never take its opponents for granted. In back-to-back quarter-finals, the Canadians were eliminated by Czechia, including a heartbreaking loss on home soil in Ottawa last year. This history serves as a reminder that Canada will need to be at the top of its game if it hopes to advance to the next round.
Looking Ahead to the Game
As the quarter-final matchup approaches, all eyes will be on Ivankovic as he takes to the ice in his first high-stakes game of the tournament. With Canada heavily favored to win, the pressure will be on Ivankovic to perform and help his team advance to the next round. The Slovaks, on the other hand, will be looking to pull off a major upset and send the Canadians packing. Given the history between the two teams, it’s likely that Canada will come out on top, but the past has shown that anything can happen in the quarter-finals. One thing is certain, however: tonight’s game will be an exciting and closely watched affair, with the hockey world tuning in to see which team will emerge victorious.