Spengler Cup Recap – HC Sparta Prague 3, Canada 2

It was an sudden begin for Canada’s National Men’s Team on the 2021
IIHF World Championship and never the nice form. Losses to Latvia, the United
States and Germany put the Canadians in an unfamiliar place – an 0-3
file and a steep hill to climb again into playoff competition, not to mention to
take into consideration a twenty seventh world title.

In over 60 years of world championship participation, Canada had by no means
began and not using a win in three video games. In truth, it had by no means began with
even two losses. But there had additionally by no means been a match just like the one
performed in 2021, with COVID-19 restrictions and necessary quarantine
durations, so actually it was an unprecedented occasion all spherical.

Which is, maybe, what made it really easy for the Canadians to maintain religion
that this was an impediment that could possibly be overcome.

“Being down and battling and [Andrew Mangiapane] coming over and turning
issues round … we simply at all times believed” says Adam Henrique, the Canadian
captain.

From the surface, all the things appeared to vary with the arrival of
Mangiapane. The Calgary Flames ahead flew over to Latvia following a
disappointing first-round playoff loss and needed to isolate for 2 weeks
earlier than becoming a member of the group. That meant he watched the primary three video games, the
losses, from his resort room. By the time he bought to the dressing room, the
group was down.

But positively not out.

“Obviously his play coming over was an enormous addition to the group, however even
his impression off the ice, he was an enormous morale enhance for the group,” Henrique
explains. “He’s nice within the locker room, he’s a humorous man, at all times had a
smile on his face, a high-energy sort of individual and I feel that actually
bled by means of the locker room with all the blokes there.

“And his play on the ice was wonderful. He turned the MVP of the match,
and we had some chemistry immediately … so he is a big purpose we ended up
having the ability to pull by means of.”

There was no particular second or sport Henrique might do not forget that issues
appeared to vary, it was extra a gradual coming collectively of the group, with
a lot of time spent taking part in playing cards along with visits exterior of the resort
restricted due to the pandemic. But no matter it was, the wins began
to return.

Victories over Norway, Kazakhstan and Italy bought Canada again to even. But
then got here the defending champions, and Finland didn’t appear to need Canada
again within the fold. A win and the pink and white can be into the
quarterfinals; every other outcome meant the Canadians would want some assist.

“We needed to play Finland in that final prelim sport … we had a chip on our
shoulder from dropping [the gold in 2019] so we have been making an attempt to attract on that,”
Henrique says. “To ship it additional time and get the purpose, we nonetheless wanted the
assist after that however … I feel that’s once we knew we might do that factor.”

Despite taking a 3-2 loss in a shootout, the purpose nonetheless helped. Canada
then ran to its room to look at the outcomes of the Germany-Latvia sport. If
both group gained in regulation, Canada would get into the quarters. But if
the sport was pressured to additional time, each Germany and Latvia would advance, and
Canada can be eradicated.

Germany scored twice within the first interval, Latvia countered within the second
however, regardless of many panicked moments for Canada and its followers, that was the
finish of the scoring. Canada was by means of.

“We have been positively conserving observe of the standings and knew that our time
could possibly be restricted so we simply needed to win our video games and cross our fingers that
all the things else would fall into place which it did,” says Canadian ahead
Nick Paul. “We simply got here collectively as a bunch and weren’t going to take no
for a solution.

At that time, it felt just like the group was destined for one thing nice.
Canada took down the Russians 2-1 in additional time within the quarterfinal – on a
Mangiapane purpose arrange by a terrific play by Troy Stecher – and the
Americans 4-2 within the semis. Leaving simply these pesky Finns with gold on the
line.

The tight first interval noticed only a Finland purpose from Mikael Ruohomaa, however
Max Comtois bought Canada on the board within the second. Petteri Lindbohm put
Finland forward early within the third earlier than the captain countered for Canada at
in regards to the 12-minute mark, sending the sport to additional time.

The Cinderella group was approaching midnight, with Paul within the defensive
zone taking a faceoff.

“I kind of lost the faceoff,” Paul recollects. “But I learn [the Finnish
centre] was going to the defence so I put my stick down and [the puck] hit
it, so springing a two-on-one with Connor Brown, and I do know whenever you give
Brownie the puck he makes good issues occur.

“I slid it over to him early and it bought blended up in his skates, however he
nonetheless made a fantastic move again and I might have closed my eyes to place
that one away. It was proper on the tape and there was no goalie in sight.”

Henrique’s reminiscence of the golden purpose is a bit more succinct.

“Thank god,” he laughs. “It was a defensive zone faceoff and Pauly goes
forward, and also you simply by no means see that!

“But it led to the two-on-one … and I can’t even clarify the sensation on the
bench was aid and we simply couldn’t consider it. We had really gained after
all the things that had occurred within the match … it is going to be a second I’ll
always remember in my hockey profession.”

It could not have been the beginning anticipated of a hockey nation as famend as
Canada, however the ending actually exceeded expectations and can seemingly be a
story instructed somewhat extra typically than others.

The biggest Canadian comeback in IIHF World Championship historical past.