Team Canada has experienced adversity up close over the past 18 months. All the adventures that his players have experienced paid dividends with the conquest of the gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Championship on Saturday night in Edmonton.
After taking a 2-0 lead midway through the second period, the Canadian team saw Finland react and go 2-2 in the third period, pushing the final duel into overtime.
In the added period, captain Mason McTavish denied the Finns what looked like a certain goal before teammate Kent Johnson about a minute later scored the winner.
“It’s been almost a year and a half since our first training camp, and to see all that hard work paying off is so special,” said McTavish, gold medal around his neck.
It was in the summer of 2021 that Team Canada was assembled with a target, a tournament that was to begin in December of that same year, in the Alberta cities of Edmonton and Red Deer.
A spike in COVID-19 cases among players and officials has forced teams to forfeit before games. Eventually, the tournament was canceled after just four days.
The leaders of the International Ice Hockey Federation promised to organize the tournament again, but August was the only time to do so. However, this is a time of year when young hockey players are often in the midst of preparations for training camps.
Meanwhile, Canadian hockey has come under fire following allegations of sexual assault against players from two former World Junior teams. Hockey Canada has come under intense scrutiny for its handling of the allegations, as the federal government froze funding for the organization and high-profile sponsors withdrew their support.
Several players chose not to participate in the summer version of the tournament, creating a major upheaval within the Canadian team. But the group persevered, said head coach Dave Cameron.
“It’s already a tough enough tournament to win when it’s held at its usual time, during the holidays,” he noted.
“This group (of players) showed up here under the cloud that was hanging over them, with what was going on with Hockey Canada, and all these changes because seven or eight players didn’t show up. It is this commitment. […] This group hooked up. It was a bit of a theme. »
Canada won each of its seven games during the tournament. The team only trailed once, 1-0 in a preliminary round encounter against Czechia — the country formerly known as the Czech Republic — before claiming a victory of 5-1.
McTavish — the tournament’s most valuable player — led the competition with 17 points, including eight goals. This performance allowed him to join Wayne Gretzky and Eric Lindros for second in points by a Canadian player at the World Junior Championship.
“These are Hall of Fame players, and to only have a quarter of their career, of the successes they’ve had, would be an achievement for me,” McTavish said. “I feel so honoured. I feel like I don’t belong here. »
The 18-year-old Anaheim Ducks prospect, McTavish has had a busy year. He dressed in nine games in the National Hockey League before returning to the Ontario Junior League. There, he helped the Hamilton Bulldogs advance to the Memorial Cup where they lost in the final. Meanwhile, he also represented his country at the Beijing Olympics last February.
However, winning gold at the World Junior Championship is a dream come true, McTavish said.
“I think every championship you win is so special. Here, it’s an incredible feeling. Every time you have the chance to win something, it’s one of the best feelings in the world, and it’s so contagious. So I hope to be able to do it again. »
McTavish is one of 11 players from Team Canada who will be eligible to participate in the 2023 edition of the tournament, which will be hosted in Moncton and Halifax.
Defender Olen Zellweger believes the group has a lot of tools to rely on to be successful in the future.
“I think coming to this tournament is a priceless experience and learning experience,” said Zellweger, who had 11 points, including nine assists, during the tournament.
“To participate again will let me know how hard it is to win, how committed you have to be and how much you have to be a united group to go all the way,” he added. .
Despite the fact that the 2022 edition of the World Junior Championship will have been special to say the least — played in the height of summer without the imposing crowds that one usually sees in December — the group learned that the tournament comes with a lot of close matches. and a lot of expectations,” Cameron noted.
According to the head coach, the experience that the young players have just had will be useful to them.
“They will certainly be able to benefit from the experience they have had here and from the pressure. So, when they enter this tournament, there will be no surprises related to expectations. »