A Program Striving for Excellence
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FEA.016.02
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December 23, 2002
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The Canadian Hockey Association recognizes that it has a tough act to follow.
When you sweep the Salt Lake City Olympics last winter--the first gold for the Canadian men's team in a half century, the first gold for the Canadian women ever at the Games--it would seem to leave nothing for encore. That would seem to be even more true when you think of all the storylines--triumphs over the United States in both championship games, Mario Lemieux letting a pass run through his skates for a key goal in the men's final, the Canadian team hanging on despite some "home-cooking" by an American referee.
"There's no doubt that our program had some tremendous momentum coming out of the Olympics," said Bob Nicholson, the CHA president.
Yet these were only the most famous moments--the end points--for the CHA's Program of Excellence. There was far more to the association's dream season than these famous stories from Salt Lake City.
It started back in August 2001 when Rick Nash of the
OHL’s London Knights put on a display that many described as the best-ever performance by an under-18 player in the program. Nash was the leader of a Canadian team that brought home the gold from an elite international tournament in the Czech Republic.
Nash was also a member of the team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic that lost a 5-4 thriller in the gold-medal game to a Russian squad that the Canadians had handily beaten in the preliminaries.
In going out to a 3-1 lead through 20 minutes, Canada had knocked the Russian starting goaltender out of the game. Even though Russia rallied in the middle frame, the Canadian juniors battled right down to the final seconds, scrambling furiously in front of the Russian net, which mysteriously jumped the magnets just a breath before the buzzer.
It was a loss of a game but, by the reckoning of CHA officials, still a validation of a new approach to a tournament that Canada had dominated in the 90s, winning five in a row and seven of eight gold medals in one stretch, but none since 1997.
In those championship seasons Canadian coaches and scouts had utilized a "ghost roster," a blueprint with defined roles for players. This yielded spectacular results for much of the last decade but just as clearly left a few quality players out in the cold--the twice-released Mike Comrie is a good example.
The medals that Canada brought home from these last two World Junior Championships--bronze in Moscow in January 2001, a silver a year later--didn't constitute a change. After all, the Canadians also had a silver and bronze to show for their two previous tries. But how the Canadian team approached the tournament was a turn-about--a line-up less reliant on 19-year-olds and more open to under-age players.
"I wanted to take our best skilled players and match them up against their skilled kids," said Stan Butler of the Brampton Battalion, who had coached the last two Canadian teams at the World Junior Championships. "I don't think that our juniors have to take a back seat to those kids from the other nations.”
"I'm really happy with our last two world junior teams," said Nicholson, who'll admit that it was difficult for the program to switch from a formula that had brought so much success. "I really think these past two tournaments will free us up a bit. It's still important to have those role players, but [the ghost roster] had been limiting us in some ways."
Just as the world-junior program is undergoing a strategic shift, so too is it undertaking a generational one: This winter Mark Habscheid will be behind the bench, becoming the first former National Junior team player to return as its head coach. He was a member of the team that won Canada's first gold in this tournament, a memorable victory in Minnesota in 1982.
"I'm just the first with the world junior team," Habscheid said. "It isn't completely new. I've been involved with teams at the under-17 and under-18 level and I was an assistant to Stan Butler on last year's team. And there are going to be lots more guys like me in the pipeline, guys who'll come after me, a lot of names better known than mine. The same will be true of the women's program too. I think we'll see players from the women's team that won in Salt Lake City eventually working as coaches of the development teams and the national teams.”
"It's really the program reaching a full cycle," Nicholson said. "We have people who came into the system as players--men and women--and then going on into coaching and giving back to the Program of Excellence, it's a very different point than we've been at before.”
"But coming full cycle isn't just a matter of repeating ourselves. We're still looking for change and I'd point to our going to the men's world under-18 championship for the first time last spring as an example. You want to keep what works but also look to adapt. While we'd been successful in the past only playing in the (invitational August) under-18 tournament and not sending a team to the worlds in April, we thought it was an opportunity that we should explore."
Canada had never sent a team to this tournament because of scheduling: It conflicts directly with the major-junior playoffs and thus many players who are available to the program in August are tied up when the World Championshiop comes around. Rick Nash, for instance, was playing in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs when the Canadian Under-18’s headed off to Piestany, Slovakia for this spring's tournament. A team was put together with players from teams that didn't make the second round of the playoffs in the Canadian Hockey League.
Though the Canadians finished sixth at this inaugural tournament, the man who selected the squad said the real results will be seen in the long run. "Giving some of these players a chance to play in an elite international tournament when they would otherwise be at home not playing has to be a positive," said Barry Trapp, the longtime Director of scouting for the CHA who joined the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer. "It's a learning experience for them and it's a learning experience for the program."
The results from last winter’s World Under 17 Challenge in Stonewall and Selkirk, Man. augur well for future national teams. Though the U.S. defeated Team Pacific 4-3 in overtime in the gold medal game, Canadian regional teams finished second, third, fourth and fifth overall, ahead of national teams from Russia, the Czech Republic and Finland.
“It was disappointing to lose to the American team but you have to take into consideration that the U.S. team practices all year long and plays a regular schedule of games,” said Barry Medori, coach of the silver-medallist Team Pacific, a squad that sent ten players to the national under-18 program last summer.
“Our players and the other Canadian teams learned a lot about coming together very quickly in a tournament environment.
“There obviously wasn’t a whole lot separating our team and the tournament champions and to be fair the other Canadian teams were just about as close,” said Medori, coach of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. “It was an excellent performance by our team and you can see how players raised their game after the tournament—take a couple of kids like (centre) Colin Fraser and defenceman Dion Phaneuf with the Red Deer Rebels. They came back to their club much better players after the tournament. It was tough losing to the U.S. in that tournament final but it leaves some work for these young players to do and gives them some motivation.”
On the matter of having a tough act to follow, leave the last word for Mark Habscheid: "As a person and a program the same thing applies. Being through all this once is experience that you can draw on--you will know some things that someone who hasn't been there probably doesn't know. But just because you've been there once doesn't mean you know everything. You can't afford complacency--even after, maybe especially after victory. That's what I've learned over the years from the people in the Program of Excellence--if you're satisfied with whatever you've won and if you're not constantly trying to get better, you're already beaten."
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Czechia
Tuesday, January 2 | 8:30 a.m. ET | Gothenburg, Sweden | Quarterfinal
January 1, 2024
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GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CZECHIA (JAN. 2)
Canada’s National Junior Team looks to start 2024 off on the right note when it takes on Czechia in a quarterfinal matchup Tuesday at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. Last Game
Canada doubled up Germany 6-3 to close out the preliminary round on Sunday, scoring three unanswered goals in the third period to break open a close game. Macklin Celebrini scored twice, and Owen Beck, Easton Cowan, Jordan Dumais and Brayden Yager chipped in with a goal apiece to help Canada clinch second place in Group A and end 2023 on a high note.
Czechia took down Switzerland 4-2 in its preliminary-round finale Sunday, wrapping up third place in Group B. Juri Kulich, Matyas Melovsky and Ondrej Becher had two points apiece, while Michael Hrabal stopped 17 of 19 shots in the win.
Last Meeting
Canada took home the gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, downing Czechia 3-2 in overtime in an absolute thriller in Halifax. After the Canadians took a two-goal lead into the third period, Czechia scored twice in 54 seconds to tie the game and force an extra frame. Dylan Guenther was the hero for Canada, finishing a give-and-go with Joshua Roy for the golden goal 6:22 into the overtime.
What to Watch
Macklin Celebrini. He’s been the talk of the town, and rightfully so. The 17-year-old continues to show his offensive prowess and why he’s so important to Canada. In all three preliminary-round wins for the Canadians, Celebrini found the scoresheet. He finished the preliminary round tied with American Gavin Brindley for second in tournament scoring with eight points, just one behind Slovakia’s Servac Petrovsky. Furthermore, the Vancouver native has seen his ice time increase and has moved up to the top line — in Canada’s win over Germany, Celebrini had 19:27 of ice time, the most for him so far this tournament, and ended the game with two goals and eight shots.
Jiri Kulich, Matyas Melovsky and Eduard Sale have powered the Czechs to the quarterfinals — Kulich (4-3—7) and Melovsky (0-7—7) finished the prelims with seven points apiece, while Sale (3-2—5) finished with five. While this may not be the same Czech team that Canada faced in the gold medal game a year ago, there are nearly a dozen returnees. The Czechs also have 11 players, currently playing in the CHL, including Adam Zidlicky (Mississauga, OHL), who is the son of former NHLer Marek Zidlicky. On a side note: Kulich is playing in his third World Juniors and set the Czech record for career goals (13) in the post-Czechoslovakia era on Sunday.
A Look Back
Since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, Canada and Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic) have faced each other 24 times at the World Juniors, with the Canadians claiming victory in 21 of those meetings.
This will be the third time the teams have met in the quarterfinals; Julien Gauthier scored twice in the third period as Canada pulled away for a 5-3 win in 2017, and Devon Levi posted a 29-save shutout in a 3-0 win inside the Edmonton bubble in 2021. All-time record: Canada leads 21-2-2 (1-1 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 118 Czechia goals: 45
From disappointment to dream
Released from Canada’s National Junior Team one year ago, Jordan Dumais used the experience to dominate the QMJHL and wear the Maple Leaf in Sweden
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December 31, 2023
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Jordan Dumais remembers how he felt when learned he wouldn’t be suiting up for Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
“It was hard. I was very disappointed,” recalls Dumais.
A star forward with the Halifax Mooseheads, Dumais, then 18, was among the 28 players invited to the National Junior Team selection camp in Moncton, with the opportunity to play in front of familiar fans in Halifax.
Coming into camp, Dumais was the leading scorer in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with 54 points in 25 games, and second only to Connor Bedard for most points in the entire Canadian Hockey League (CHL).
“I knew I was a younger guy. I knew my odds of making it were tough, but I thought I played pretty well at the camp,” says Dumais, who had a goal and an assist in one of the camp games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars.
Still, it wasn’t enough and Dumais was among five forwards sent home at the camp’s conclusion.
“I went to the camp and did what I had to do, and it didn’t go my way,” says Dumais.
Fast-forward a year and things have very much gone the Montreal native’s way. He was once again invited to selection camp and instead of being sent home, he finds himself wearing the Maple Leaf in Sweden as a member of Canada’s National Junior Team.
“I came in this year with a bit of experience and played my game and it went my way this year,” says Dumais. “As a kid, it’s your dream. Honestly, just wearing the Canada logo every game is unbelievable.”
Fueling a fire
Dumais was tearing it up in the QMJHL well before he was released from Team Canada, but he took it to a whole new level when he returned to the Mooseheads after camp, and ended up having a historic season.
He put up points in his first eight games back, and was held off the scoresheet only six times in 40 games. His run included seven points (4-3—7) against Moncton on Feb. 19, and had six (2-4—6) on March 22 against Charlottetown.
In just 40 games after coming back from camp, Dumais recorded 86 points — he had 31 in the month of March alone — and finished the season with 140 points (54-86—140), breaking the Mooseheads’ single-season scoring record of 137.
He took home a couple of big postseason honours, winning the Jean Beliveau Trophy as QMJHL leading scorer and the Michel Brière Trophy as QMJHL MVP. He was also named to the first all-star team in both the QMJHL and CHL.
Mooseheads and Team Canada teammate Jake Furlong says there was a change in Dumais after he came back from camp.
“Especially after Christmas, I think he just had a little more motivation and little more grind. He wanted to prove people wrong, but also the people that believe in him right,” says Furlong, who has been teammates with Dumais in Halifax for four seasons. “He stayed the same off the ice and didn’t really change his demeanor, but on the ice, he really worked his butt off, and I think that showed in the second half.”
Furlong also believes the fact the World Juniors took place in Halifax only added more fuel to the fire.
“I think that probably played a factor into it. I mean, being from there and being with the Mooseheads and seeing the fans we get every night, World Juniors was a whole different level, and I am sure he wanted to make Mooseheads fans proud,” he says.
Dumais admits not making Team Canada only motivated him to take his game to another level.
“Obviously, I wasn’t happy about not making it last year, but I did use it as motivation to get back this year.”
Silencing critics
At just 5-foot-9, Dumais, a third-round pick (96th overall) of the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2022 NHL Draft, has had to deal with those who have questioned his size and whether he could even play at a high level throughout his entire hockey career.
“I think I have been [doubted] my whole life. So, at this point, I do play my game and have always had a bit of a chip on my shoulder. I don’t think too much about it, but it is always there.”
During the offseason, Dumais spent a considerable amount of time working on improving various areas of his game, whether it was becoming a better skater or spending time in the gym.
“I am always trying to work on my game where I can. I am aware of my flaws. I am smaller than the other guys, but I don’t really think too much about it. During the summer, I am always working on those things and trying to improve and get better.”
Mooseheads head coach Jim Midgley says it was clear from the beginning of the year that Dumais wanted to make Canada’s National Junior Team, adding that the 19-year-old is an extremely competitive and driven individual who wants to win and be the best all the time.
“Every drill we do in practice, he wants to be the best. He wants to win, he wants to be the fastest, he wants to be the best. He has a high battle level, but that is what I think makes Jordan special. He’s not the biggest guy, but for a smaller guy he has a lot of fight in him.”
That hard work and burning desire to be the best has paid off for Dumais, who came to selection camp with 47 points (16-31—47) in just 21 games with the Mooseheads. He sits five points behind QMJHL scoring leader Mathieu Cataford, despite having played 13 games less than Cataford and having not played for the Mooseheads since Dec. 8.
For the next week, the focus remains on Team Canada and the World Juniors, alongside Mooseheads teammates Furlong and Mathis Rousseau. It’s something Dumais says he’ll treasure for the rest of his life.
“It’s a great group of guys here. We have really good atmosphere in the room, you know, at the hotel, wherever we are, so that's been a lot of fun,” he says. “It’s a dream come true.”
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Germany
Friday, December 31 | 1:30 p.m. ET | Gothenburg, Sweden | Preliminary Round
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December 30, 2023
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GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. GERMANY (DEC. 31)
Canada’s National Junior Team looks to rebound when it takes on Germany in its final preliminary-round game on New Year’s Eve at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. Last Game Canada suffered its first loss of the tournament Friday when it fell 2-0 to Sweden in front of a capacity crowd that included more than 3,500 Canadian fans. Mathis Rousseau finished with 22 saves, including a couple of highlight-reel stops, and Macklin Celebrini had four shots on goal, but it wasn’t enough.
GER-LAT
Last Meeting
You don’t have to look too far back in the pages of history. The last time these two played was just over a year ago in prelim play at the 2023 World Juniors in Halifax. Connor Bedard tied a Canadian record with seven points (3-4—7) and Dylan Guenther also recorded a hat trick in an 11-2 Canadian win.
What to Watch
How about Mathis Rousseau? The 19-year-old undrafted Halifax Mooseheads netminder has put on a clinic. His massive save late in the first period against the Finns on Boxing Day ultimately led to a Canadian goal minutes. Against Sweden, Rousseau made a terrific skate-blade save that got the approval of The King himself, Henrik Lundqvist. He is currently second among goaltenders in goals-against average (1.33) and save percentage (.944).
The Germans don’t have an overly deep lineup, but they do have 19-year-old NHL prospect Julian Lutz (Arizona, 2022, 43rd overall), who has 23 points (10-13—23) in 19 games with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. They also have two players who skate in the QMJHL — 18-year-olds Julius Stumpf (Moncton Wildcats) and Norwin Panocha (Chicoutimi Saguenéens). Stumpf has 28 points in 30 games with the Wildcats, while Panocha (Buffalo, 2023,205th overall) has 11 points with Chicoutimi. A Look Back
When it comes to head-to-head history, Canada has won all 16 meetings since Germany’s reunification in 1991. If you go one step further and throw in games against West Germany from 1977-89, Canada boasts an impressive record of 26 wins from 27 meetings. Canada’s only blip was a 7-6 loss in the consolation round in 1981. The good news from that defeat? It indirectly contributed to the establishment of the Program of Excellence the following year.
All-time record: Canada leads 16-0-0 Canada goals: 101 Germany goals: 23
NJT: Doing it his way – TSN
Brent Sutter has made his mark on Canada’s junior camp.
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Sweden
Friday, December 29 | 1:30 p.m. ET | Gothenburg, Sweden | Preliminary Round
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December 28, 2023
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GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SWEDEN (DEC. 29)
Canada’s National Junior Team looks to continue its winning ways when it faces off against host Sweden in a showdown of unbeaten teams atop Group A at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Last Game
Canada blanked Latvia 10-0 on Tuesday to make it two wins in two days. Macklin Celebrini led the way with a goal and four assists, posting the 32nd five-point game in Canadian World Juniors history. Conor Geekie and Carson Rehkopf added two goals apiece and Mathis Rousseau made 22 saves to record the shutout.
For the Swedes, Otto Stenberg recorded a hat trick in a 5-0 victory over Germany on Thursday as the hosts improved to 2-0 in preliminary-round play and kept pace with Canada atop Group A. Mattias Havelid added a goal and an assist, and Melker Thelin needed to make just 15 saves for the shutout. Last Meeting
Canada came away with a 5-1 preliminary-round win over Sweden on New Year’s Eve in Halifax at the 2023 World Juniors. Brennan Othmann scored twice, Connor Bedard had four assists and Thomas Milic made 22 saves as Canada opened up a 3-0 lead in the first 12 minutes to wrap up second place in Group A. What to Watch
Macklin Celebrini. Who else? The 17-year-old Vancouver native was the star of the show in the win over Latvia, scoring a goal and adding four assists to take over the tournament scoring lead through two days (2-4—6). Celebrini has been simply dominant in the Maple Leaf; in his last eight games representing his country, dating back to the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship in the spring, he has posted 21 points (8-13—21).
Sweden’s lineup is deep, featuring 18 NHL prospects, including nine taken in the first round of the last two drafts — Filip Bystedt (San Jose, 27th, 2022), David Edstrom (Vegas, 32nd, 2023), Jonathan Lekkerimäki (Vancouver, 15th, 2022), Theo Lindstein (St. Louis, 29th, 2023), Liam Öhgren (2022, 19th, Minnesota), Noah Östlund (2022, 16th, Buffalo), Axel Sandin Pellikka (Detroit, 17th, 2023), Stenberg (St. Louis, 25th, 2023) and Tom Willander (Vancouver, 11th, 2023). A Look Back
There is a long and deep history between Canada and Sweden that stretches all the way back to the inaugural World Juniors in 1977. In36 all-time meetings, Canada has been largely victorious, winning 25 games, which includes four for the gold medal – 1996, 2008, 2009 and 2018.
This will be just the fifth time the Canadians and Swedes have faced off in Sweden and the first since 2006 – Canada won that game 2-0 thanks to goals from Luc Bourdon and Brad Marchand. Canada holds a record of 3-1 when playing the Swedes on their ice. All-time record: Canada leads 25-10-1 (2-1 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 160 Sweden goals: 112
Never give up
Owen Allard wasn’t expected to make Canada’s National Junior Team, but hard work and dedication have brought him to Gothenburg for a chance to wear the Maple Leaf
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December 26, 2023
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A look at Owen Allard’s hockey career so far reveals a résumé one might not expect to see from a member of Canada’s National Junior Team.
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds forward was a seventh-round pick in the 2020 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection and has been passed over in consecutive NHL drafts. But that hasn’t stopped the Renfrew, Ontario, native from putting in the work and earning a spot on the Canadian roster at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden.
“I laid it all on the line,” Allard says. “I thought I had a strong performance at [selection]camp, I did my thing and I had no regrets. I dreamed of playing at the World Juniors as a kid, so it’s a really special moment for myself, and my family and friends.”
Allard joins an select group of skaters (forwards and defencemen) to make Canada’s National Junior Team after going undrafted in back-to-back drafts, joining the likes of longtime NHLers Bob Bassen (1985) and Mike Keane (1987), Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Mark Recchi (1988) and the most recent player to add his name to the list, Brett Leason (2019).
(Leason ended up being the 56th overall pick by Washington in his third draft and is a constant presence in the Anaheim Ducks lineup this season.)
“It has been a crazy path,” Allard says. “I was a late-round draft pick in the OHL and really wasn't supposed to make the Soo Greyhounds as a 17-year-old. But, I went in there, did my thing and made the team. I think it is the same thing here. I wasn't really supposed to be invited, I mean I am undrafted in the NHL and I only played 14 games last season.”
That’s right… Allard forced his way into the Team Canada conversation despite playing only 14 games after suffering a torn labrum ahead of the 2022-23 season that required shoulder surgery. The recovery time meant Allard didn’t make his season debut until Feb. 23 and once again put his resilience, mentally and physically, to the test.
“I definitely put in the work to be here and to have an opportunity to be on this team,” Allard says. “[Before the injury], I thought I was going to have a big year, especially being passed over in the draft, but that goal collapsed after the injury and a lot of doubt went through my mind. I stayed positive and stuck with it, did the rehab and worked extremely hard to get back onto the ice. Everything happens for a reason, so everything happened last season so I can be here right now.”
Improving himself
While he may be representing his country for the first time, this won’t be Allard’s first experience on international ice. During the 2020-21 season that was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Allard crossed the pond to France, where his brother Sutton was getting into a few games in the Ligue Magnus, the country’s top league. Allard skated with the U17 and U20 teams with the Caen Drakkars recording 15 points in eight games.
“It was super beneficial for my development during those lockdown years,” Allard recalls. “I was still getting better, getting the reps, and being able to play on the bigger ice unlocked some new skills that I took back to make the Soo Greyhounds as an unexpected player at the following camp.”
As for advice from his journey so far? To never give up, something Allard lives by. At every stage of his career, he knew he could have hung up the skates and pursued something else, but he made sure to keep going.
“I’ve defied all odds and stuck with it,” Allard says. “It could have been really easy for me to quit hockey or even just not played, but I say just never give up and trust your abilities. You can always get better, just put the work in.”
Kyle Nishizaki has been Allard’s skills coach for the last 10 years in Ottawa, and knows first hand how much work he has put in during that time. Nishizaki says he is excited to see Allard get the opportunity to show what kind of person and player he is on the world stage.
“His energy is infectious,” Nishizaki says. “You see him on the ice and the work ethic that’s driven him and allowed him to make this team, but it’s the energy, his love for hockey, his teammates. He pushes everyone around him to be better.
As Allard hits the ice with Canada’s National Junior Team, his hard work so far has paid off, but there’s much more work to be done. The goal in Sweden is to make sure he makes the most of this experience and see what’s next for him in his hockey journey.
“It’s been rewarding,” Allard says. “For all the hard work I’ve put in, the sacrifice my family has made for me, it feels really good, and I think [Hockey Canada] saw something in my game that they needed in this tournament. Only a select few get to wear the Maple Leaf, so its a crazy feeling and I am going to do everything I can to help this team win."
NJT: Camp roster presser – TSN
Canada named its 25-player roster for selection camp in Toronto.
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. Finland
Tuesday, December 26 | 8:30 a.m. ET | Gothenburg, Sweden | Preliminary Round
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December 25, 2023
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GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. FINLAND (DEC. 26)
Here we go. Canada’s National Junior Team kicks off its quest for a third-straight gold medal and 21st overall at the IIHF World Junior Championship with a Boxing Day matchup against Finland.
Last Game
Canada is coming off an 6-5 pre-tournament overtime loss to the United States on Saturday in game that saw it erase a two-goal deficit in the third period. Macklin Celebrini scored twice and Owen Allard tied it midway through the final frame, while newcomer Jorian Donovan picked up an assist in his first game since joining Team Canada.
Finland is entering the World Juniors on a winning note after downing Czechia 4-1 on Thursday to finish off a perfect pre-tournament. Rasmus Kumpulainen, Arttu Kärki, Emil Hemming and Jani Nyman provided the offence for the Finns, who scored nine goals in their two exhibition contests. Last Meeting
Canada’s last meeting against the Finns was a pre-tournament game last year in Halifax. Connor Bedard scored twice, including the game-winner, and Brennan Othmann had a goal and assist, helping Canada to a 5-3 win.
The last time these two teams met during tournament play, however, was the gold medal game in August 2022. Canada won 3-2 in an overtime thriller that saw Kent Johnson score shortly after Mason McTavish saved the Canadians by swatting the puck out of mid-air before it crossed the goal line.
What to Watch
Macklin Celebrini, and rightfully so. The 17-year-old Vancouver native continues to be a threat every time he is on the ice. How good has he been? In three pre-tournament games, Celebrini put seven points (3-4—7), the most of any player. And let’s not forget the new guys. With Tristan Luneau and Tanner Molendyk ruled out, Donovan and Ty Nelson were officially added to the Canadian roster following the game against the Americans.
The Finns may not have Nashville Predators prospect Joakim Kemell available for his third World Juniors, but 11 players on the roster are NHL draftees. That number includes Seattle Kraken prospect Jani Nyman – the 19-year-old has netted 14 goals in 28 games for Ilves Tampere in the Liiga, Finland's top league, good for second among all active skaters. A Look Back
The Canadians and Finns have been frequent foes, facing off against each other 42 times at the World Juniors since 1977. Canada has the edge with a 27-9-6 (W-L-T) mark, but it has had trouble with Finland on Swedish ice – one-third of the Finns’ wins have come in the land of their Nordic neighbours.
The Canadians have won five of the last six meetings, including a 5-0 romp in the semifinals in 2020; Joel Hofer made 32 saves for the shutout, Alexis Lafrenière scored twice and Canada netted three goals in the first four minutes en route to the gold medal game and an eventual 18th World Juniors gold. All-time record: Canada leads 26-9-6 (1-1 in OT) Canada goals: 163 Finland goals: 105
World Juniors Preview: Canada vs. United States
Saturday, December 23 | 12 p.m. ET | Kungsbacka, Sweden | Pre-Tournament
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December 22, 2023
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GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (DEC. 23)
Canada’s National Junior Team wraps up its pre-tournament schedule Saturday against the United States in the final tune-up ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. Last Game
Canada is coming off a 6-3 pre-tournament win over Switzerland on Friday. Owen Beck scored twice, one of them shorthanded, Conor Geekie chipped in with a goal and a helper while Macklin Celebrini had two assists for the Canadians, who broke open a tie game with four unanswered goals in the second period before being ejected after he was given a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding.
The United States’ last game saw it score five in a row to down Sweden 5-3 in pre-tournament action Thursday. Jimmy Snuggerud, Will Smith and Cutter Gauthier had three points each in the victory, while Trey Augustine stopped 14 of the 16 shots he faced. Last Meeting
The last time these two teams met, Canada booked its ticket to the gold medal game at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring six unanswered goals to down the United States 6-2. Joshua Roy had a two-goal night, Connor Bedard, Logan Stankoven, Adam Fantilli and Brandt Clarke each had a goal and an assist, and Thomas Milic put on a clinic in a 43-save effort.
What to Watch
As the lone returnee from the team that won gold a year ago in the Maritimes, there are plenty of eyes on Owen Beck. But the Peterborough Petes sniper doesn’t appear to mind the attention; he was all over the ice against the Swiss, giving Canada the lead for good early in the second period before adding a highlight-reel shorthanded marker late in the middle frame. Beck has been terrific for the defending OHL champions, posting 16 goals and 30 points in 25 games.
The United States is a deep team and considered a perennial favourite for a few reasons. First, the U.S. has 10 first-round NHL draft picks, a list that includes the fourth overall pick in 2023 (Will Smith, San Jose) and fifth overall pick in 2022 (Cutter Gauthier, Philadelphia). Second, they’ve got Trey Augustine between the pipes. The 18-year-old Detroit Red Wings prospect is 11-3-2 with a .912 save percentage at Michigan State University this season. Third, the Americans are very familiar with each other — eight players are returnees from the team that won bronze in Halifax. A Look Back
While Canada historically has had the upper hand against the United States, winning 34 of 49 meetings with three ties, things have been more even of late. The Canadians have split the last 10 meetings with the U.S. dating back to 2012.
Prior to the semifinal win last year, Canada’s previous victory over the Americans came in the 2020 World Juniors opener, when Alexis Lafrenière scored a late game-winner and added three assists in a 6-4 Boxing Day win.
All-time record: Canada leads 34-12-3 (3-3 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 200 United States goals: 136
OLY: My Olympic darkhorse (Pt. 1)
Who do Canada’s juniors want to see on the ice in Sochi next February?
National Junior Team roster announced for 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship
Team Canada heads to Malmo, Sweden for final pre-tournament preparations
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December 13, 2023
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OAKVILLE, Ontario - Hockey Canada has announced the 22 players selected to wear the Maple Leaf with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The roster – including three goaltenders, seven defencemen and 12 forwards – was chosen following a four-day selection camp at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville that included a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars.
The 22 players include representation from seven Members and one returnee – Owen Beck – who helped Canada win a 20th World Juniors gold last year in Halifax.
“This was a tremendously competitive camp that showed once again the depth of talent that exists across the country,” said Peter Anholt (Naicam, SK/Lethbridge, WHL), the under-20 lead for the Program of Excellence management group. “With so many talented players, difficult decisions had to be made, but the management, coaching and scouting staffs believe the team we have assembled will give us the best chance to compete for a gold medal in Sweden. We are excited to travel to Europe and are grateful to the Town of Oakville and the fans for being part of our journey.”
Canada will open its pre-tournament schedule against a U25 team from Denmark on Dec. 19 before facing Switzerland on Dec. 22 and the United States on Dec. 23.
The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Finland at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT. In addition to broadcasting Canada’s pre-tournament games against Switzerland and the U.S., TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will provide extensive coverage of the event, broadcasting all 29 tournament games. TSN Radio will also provide comprehensive tournament coverage.
2025 World Juniors Priority Ticket Draw opens Thursday
The IIHF World Junior Championship returns to Canada next year when Ottawa plays host from Dec. 26, 2024 to Jan. 5, 2025. Demand for tickets will exceed availability and ticket packages are expected to sell out. Starting tomorrow, fans have an opportunity to purchase tickets by entering the 2025 World Juniors Priority Ticket Draw.
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Thirty players invited to Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp
World Juniors hopefuls to face U SPORTS all-stars in camp
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December 5, 2023
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CALGARY, Alberta – With less than a month to go before the puck drops on the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, Hockey Canada has announced the 30 players invited to Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp, Dec. 10-13 in Oakville, Ontario.
The roster selection was led by Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Peter Anholt (Naicam, SK/Lethbridge, WHL), the under-20 lead for the Program of Excellence management group, in consultation with Brent Seabrook (Tsawwassen, BC). Head coach Alan Letang (Renfrew, ON/Sarnia, OHL), assistant coaches Gilles Bouchard (Normandin, QC/Sherbrooke, QMJHL), Shaun Clouston (Viking, AB/Kamloops, WHL) and Scott Walker (Cambridge, ON/Guelph, OHL), as well as goaltending consultant Justin Pogge (Penticton, BC), also provided input, along with coaches and general managers across the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).
The 30 players, including four goaltenders, 10 defencemen and 16 forwards, will compete for a chance to wear the Maple Leaf at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
“We are excited to name the 30 players who will embark on the journey through camp and eventually on to the World Juniors,” said Anholt. “Canada has an incredible talent pool of players, and there are always difficult decisions to narrow it down. We are expecting a highly competitive camp, and we look forward to naming our final roster that will wear the Maple Leaf with pride starting on Boxing Day.”
Selection camp will take place at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex and will include practices and a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars, Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT and Dec. 13 at noon ET/9 a.m. PT. Tickets for the games will be available for purchase starting Dec. 6 at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets. Individual game tickets are $25, or a two-game package is available for $40, plus applicable fees. Fans can also livestream both games at HockeyCanada.ca.
“We are grateful to the Town of Oakville for hosting us and assisting us in our preparations for the World Juniors and we are excited to give fans the opportunity to see the best under-20 players in Canada,” said Salmond. “This camp, including the two games against U SPORTS, will give us the best chance to assemble the top players to represent our country on the world stage. As part of our preparations, we remain in communication with NHL teams with the potential of teams releasing players who are eligible to represent Canada, which we anticipate updating during camp.”
Canada’s National Junior Team will travel to Malmo, Sweden on Dec. 14 for a pre-tournament camp ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. As part of its preparations, Canada will open its pre-tournament schedule against a U25 team from Denmark on Dec. 19 before facing Switzerland on Dec. 22 and the United States on Dec. 23.
The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Finland at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT. In addition to broadcasting Canada’s pre-tournament games against Switzerland and the U.S., TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will provide extensive coverage of the event, broadcasting all 31 tournament games. TSN Radio will also provide comprehensive tournament coverage.
The IIHF World Junior Championship returns to Canada next year when Ottawa plays host from Dec. 26, 2024 to Jan. 5, 2025. Demand for tickets will exceed availability and ticket packages are expected to sell out. To have an opportunity to purchase tickets, fans can enter the 2025 World Juniors Priority Ticket Draw starting Dec. 14.
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.
OLY: My Olympic darkhorse (Pt. 2)
Who do Canada’s juniors want to see on the ice in Sochi next February?
National Junior Team staff named for 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship
Alan Letang to serve as head coach alongside assistants Gilles Bouchard, Shaun Clouston, Scott Walker; Brent Seabrook joins management group
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October 13, 2023
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CALGARY, AB – With less than three months until the puck drops on the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, Hockey Canada has named the staff that will lead Canada’s National Junior Team in its gold medal defence in Gothenburg, Sweden.
After helping Canada win gold at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship as an assistant coach, Alan Letang (Renfrew, ON/Sarnia, OHL) returns to take the reins as head coach. He will be joined by assistant coaches Gilles Bouchard (Normandin, QC/Sherbrooke, QMJHL), Shaun Clouston (Viking, AB/Kamloops, WHL) and Scott Walker (Cambridge, ON/Guelph, OHL), as well as goaltending consultant Justin Pogge (Penticton, BC) and video coach James Emery (Calgary, AB).
In addition, three-time Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medallist Brent Seabrook (Tsawwassen, BC) will serve as a member of the management group alongside Peter Anholt (Naicam, SK/Lethbridge, WHL), the U20 lead for the Program of Excellence management group. Anholt helped select the staff alongside Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), senior manager of hockey operations.
“We are thrilled to welcome back Alan after a successful year where he helped Canada capture gold medals at the World Juniors and Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and to have Peter and Brent’s extensive management and playing experience leading our National Junior Team,” said Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of hockey operations. “We are also excited to have Gilles, Shaun, Scott, Justin and James round out our coaching staff, as they all bring a winning pedigree at the international and Canadian Hockey League levels. We believe this is an exceptional staff that will provide our players with an opportunity to be successful as we look to win our third-straight World Juniors gold medal.”
Seabrook is set to make his international management debut after a 15-year professional playing career. As a player, he won a gold medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, silver and gold at the 2004 and 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship, respectively, gold at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championship and silver at the 2001 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Seabrook also played in more than 1,100 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, amassing 464 points and winning three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013, 2015). He recently served as an assistant coach (2021-22) and development coach (2022-23) with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Letang most recently won a gold medal as head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, as well as a gold medal as an assistant with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also won a gold medal as an assistant at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. Letang is in his third season as head coach of the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and previously spent five seasons with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack as an assistant coach (2016-19) and head coach (2019-20).
Bouchard has represented Canada three times at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (2014, 2015, 2018), winning a silver medal as the head coach of Team Canada Red in 2018 and gold as an assistant with Team Canada White in 2015. He is currently in his first year as head coach of the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) after five years (2018-23) as an assistant with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL). He also served five years (2013-18) as the general manager and head coach of the QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, leading the team to a QMJHL championship in 2016.
Clouston won two gold medals with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2014 and 2015 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, as well as a bronze medal with Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship. He is currently in his fourth season as head coach of the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, adding the title of general manager in 2021-22. Clouston previously spent 16 seasons (2003-19) with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers as general manager and head coach, associate coach and assistant coach, helping lead the team to Memorial Cup appearances in 2004 and 2007.
Walker has served behind the Team Canada bench at all levels of the Program of Excellence. As an assistant, he won a bronze medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, bronze and gold at the 2012 and 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, respectively, and gold at the 2012 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament. He also won a gold medal as head coach of Team Canada White at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Walker is currently a partner and president of hockey operations with the OHL’s Guelph Storm, where he also served as head coach for six seasons (2010-15, 2022-23). He also spent time with the Vancouver Canucks (2015-17, 2018-19, 2021-22) and Arizona Coyotes (2019-21) in various hockey operations roles.
The support staff that will work with Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship includes:
- Athletic therapists Kevin Elliott (Charlottetown, PE) and Andy Brown (Owen Sound, ON/Owen Sound, OHL)
- Team physician Dr. R.J. MacKenzie (Albert Bridge, NS/Cape Breton, QMJHL)
- Equipment managers Chris Cook (Ottawa, ON/Brantford, OHL) and Tyler Jay (Charlottetown, PE/Saint John, QMJHL)
- Strength and conditioning coach Sean Young (Ennismore, ON/Ottawa, OHL)
- Mental performance consultant Luke Madill (Kirkland, QC)
- Manager of hockey operations Mitchell Furlotte (Bathurst, NB)
- Media relations manager Esther Madziya (Lethbridge, AB)
“I am excited to work with this world-class staff as we look to achieve our collective goal of defending gold and winning a World Junior Championship,” Anholt said. “I know every staff member is grateful for this opportunity and will represent our country with pride in Sweden, and we look forward to assembling a roster that will make Canadians proud as they cheer us on this holiday season.”
Canada’s National Junior Team will gather at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ontario for a four-day selection camp, Dec. 10-13, before selecting a final roster ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. The selection camp will include a pair of games against a team of U SPORTS all-stars on Dec. 12-13.
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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