IIHF Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Latvia

It was an surprising begin for Canada’s National Men’s Team on the 2021
IIHF World Championship and never the nice sort. Losses to Latvia, the United
States and Germany put the Canadians in an unfamiliar place – an 0-3
document and a steep hill to climb again into playoff rivalry, 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 with no win in three video games. In reality, it had by no means began with
even two losses. But there had additionally by no means been a event just like the one
performed in 2021, with COVID-19 restrictions and obligatory 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 may very well 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 skin, every little thing 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 increase 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 kind of individual and I feel that actually
bled by means of the locker room with all the fellows there.

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

There was no particular second or sport Henrique may do not forget that issues
appeared to vary, it was extra a gradual coming collectively of the group, with
a lot of time spent enjoying playing cards along with visits outdoors 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 purple and white can be into the
quarterfinals; another consequence meant the Canadians would wish some assist.

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

Despite taking a 3-2 loss in a shootout, the purpose nonetheless helped. Canada
then ran to its room to observe the outcomes of the Germany-Latvia sport. If
both group gained in regulation, Canada would get into the quarters. But if
the sport was compelled to time beyond regulation, 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 had been positively holding monitor of the standings and knew that our time
may very well be restricted so we simply needed to win our video games and cross our fingers that
every little thing else would fall into place which it did,” says Canadian ahead
Nick Paul. “We simply got here collectively as a gaggle 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 time beyond regulation within the quarterfinal – on a
Mangiapane objective 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 objective 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 time beyond regulation.

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 if 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 lovely go again and I may 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 objective 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 reduction and we simply couldn’t imagine it. We had really gained after
every little thing that had occurred within the event … it is going to be a second I’ll
always remember in my hockey profession.”

It might not have been the beginning anticipated of a hockey nation as famend as
Canada, however the ending definitely exceeded expectations and can possible be a
story instructed slightly extra typically than others.

The biggest Canadian comeback in IIHF World Championship historical past.