Olivier Michaud has many stories to tell to the three goalies of the Canadian team who will participate in the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Twenty years after defending the net for Canada at the 2002 World Cup in the Czech Republic, he is the goalkeeper coach for the 2022 edition.
“I remember a lot of everything,” Michaud told The Canadian Press. Even though it’s been 20 years, it was my first and, until this year, my only World Juniors. ”
He keeps several memories of it: not answering the phone in his hotel room for fear of being cut off; to beat two other goalkeepers to accompany Pascal Leclaire within the formation; to warm up before his first start against France, on Christmas Day, in the very cold arena of Hradec Kralove; and Russia’s Alexander Svitov spitting at Brian Sutherby during a round robin match are the ones who come to him the fastest.
Michaud played against Switzerland and Finland in the round robin. Leclaire was in net for the 5-4 loss to Russia in the grand final in Pardubice.
A native of Beloeil, Michaud was never drafted into the NHL. That didn’t stop him from starting a game for the Montreal Canadiens in 2001-02 and enjoying a career in the professional minor ranks. Now 38, he works as a goalie coach for the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
Michaud and Leclaire edged Shane Bendera and Ray Emery for the dual goaltending positions 20 years ago.
Unlike Michaud, Team Canada’s three goaltenders didn’t have to deal with insomnia at the selection camp: when Dylan Garand, Brett Brochu and Sebastian Cossa received their invitation to the selection camp, they also knew that ‘they were part of the team.
The trio are truly ahead of their peers; that’s why Hockey Canada selected them immediately.
“I think that makes it simple and that these three goalies really stood out from the crowd,” said head coach Dave Cameron.
It was technological advancements and the available data that enabled coaches to make this decision.
“All the shots they’ve received this season, I’ve seen them from all possible angles,” said Michaud.
Garand, Brochu and Cossa thus had the luxury of working intensively with Michaud during the camp.
“If we had four or five goalies, we would have had to make sure everyone was confident and helping,” said Michaud. We still had to do that, but I was able to tackle different things with very specific angles for each of them. There are some things that I absolutely want to put in place before the tournament starts.
“They still have to earn their playing time: it’s not like they came to camp on vacation. ”
The team moved to Banff, Alta., Following the announcement of the 25 players on Sunday.
The three goalies played both games against varsity rosters during the camp, but since they were already selected, it was not their job that caught the attention of Cameron, who was to choose the other 22 skaters.
Competition for starts during the tournament to be played in Edmonton will begin during the pre-season matches. Canada will face Switzerland on Sunday and Sweden on Monday in Red Deer. They will play on December 22 against Russia in Edmonton.
These games will decide who will be Canada’s goalkeeper for the first game, on December 26, against the Czech Republic.
Garand, a New York Rangers prospect, is a training veteran, having won silver in 2021, although Devon Levi has played the majority of games: he only played one period, in a win of 16-2 against Germany.
Cossa is a first-round pick for the Detroit Red Wings, while Brochu will be eligible for the next NHL Draft.
Garand and Cossa are from the Western League; OHL Brochu.