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BEIJING, China – Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team has been eliminated from the 2022 Olympic Winter Games after falling to Sweden 2-0 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

• Matt Tomkins (Sherwood Park, Alta./ Frölunda HC, SHL) made 24 saves.
• Mark Barberio (Montréal/Ak Bars Kazan, KHL) led all Canadian skaters with five shots on goal. Maxim Noreau (Montréal/ZSC Lions, NL) and Adam Tambellini (Edmonton, Alta./ Rögle BK, SHL) had three shots apiece.
• Owen Power (Mississauga, Ont./University of Michigan, Big Ten) led all skaters in ice-time with 24:54.
• Sweden outshot Canada 26-22.

Quotes:

“There was a lot of adversity, but every team had to go through that. At the end of the day, our group was pretty resilient. They never got rattled or frustrated, they just rolled with the punches. We came [to Beijing] with a great group of players that combined youth and veterans, and everyone seemed to come together so quickly. As a coach, I just wish our team would have been rewarded with something better than what we are left with.”
- Head coach Claude Julien (Orleans, Ont.) on being eliminated

“Consistency is always one of those things that you strive for in a tournament like this. We had some moments in all our games that were better than others, and maybe at times we didn’t have the amount of consistency that we would have liked. Our team competed hard and there were a lot of moments where we were really solid. Tonight was just one of those games where we knew that one or two plays could make the difference, and we had chances that we came close to capitalizing on. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way.”
- Captain Eric Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./Iowa, AHL) on finding consistency

“When you have a chance to play together more often, you get familiar with your teammates, you know who you are going to play with and who is going to be on the power play. We know how hard it is to come together quickly and find success, especially at a tournament like this. Our guys did a really good job, and we became such a tight-knit group over a short period of time. We had a great group with veteran leadership and young talent, but we just needed to get inside [Sweden’s] defenders more and create some more traffic around the net.”
- Noreau on establishing chemistry

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

BEIJING, China – Hockey fans across the world can own a piece of Hockey Canada history and bid on game-worn jerseys from Canada’s women’s and men’s Olympic hockey teams.

Bidding will remain open until Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT at HockeyCanada.ca/Auction.

Proceeds from the online auction benefit the Hockey Canada Foundation and the Canadian Olympic Foundation and will be invested in programs to grow the game at the grassroots level in Canadian communities.

As Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team prepares for tonight’s gold medal game, fans can join the excitement of the Games and bid on game-worn jerseys from captain Marie-Philip Poulin, tournament scoring leader Sarah Nurse, first-time Olympian Sarah Fillier and the rest of Team Canada.

The online auction for Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team is also open, with game-worn jerseys available of captain Eric Staal, No. 1 NHL draft pick Owen Power, Kent Johnson and the other 22 members of the Canadian roster.

“All month, hockey fans from coast to coast to coast have been cheering on Canada’s men’s and women’s teams at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games as they proudly represent our country,” said Donna Iampieri, executive director of the Hockey Canada Foundation. “Now, they can own a piece of hockey history and support the development of grassroots hockey across Canada.

“Proceeds from the online auction will help establish a legacy for our Olympic hockey teams that goes well beyond the Games and inspires the next generation of hockey players to chase their Olympic dreams.”

Through the auction, hockey fans have already raised over $35,000 for grassroots hockey.

For more information on the Hockey Canada Foundation, please visit HockeyCanada.ca/Foundation.

He led Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team in scoring and captured a bronze medal in PyeongChang. He has won four Spengler Cup titles in six appearances, including four times as captain. And yet even with so much international success, Maxim Noreau may not be a household hockey name in Canada, thanks to the majority of his career being overseas.

“I’m not going to dwell on the ifs, ands or buts,” Noreau says of his time working his through the North American system. “At the end of the day, I’m 34 and still getting paid to play hockey but I don’t even consider it a job.

“I still love going to the rink in the morning. I jump out of bed, I just love doing it.”

It’s that passion exhibited by the Montreal product that has made him a repeat representative of the red and white. No matter when the call comes, Noreau answers.

“For him to always answer the call the way he has and not only answer but deliver when he’s there, says a lot about him and his willingness to support the program and his country,” says Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of hockey operations with Hockey Canada.

Noreau spent three seasons with the Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but was undrafted to the National Hockey League (NHL). In 2008, the defenceman signed an entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild and spent the majority of three seasons with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Houston Aeros.

He made his NHL debut in the 2009-10 season, appearing in just one game. The following season, Noreau played five more NHL contests, though didn’t record a point. He finished the year with the Aeros, was named to the AHL First All-Star Team, then traded to the New Jersey Devils in the off-season.

In 2011-12, Noreau made the decision to head overseas to play in the Swiss National League. And it was during that season he first put on the Maple Leaf at the Spengler Cup.

“It’s always an honour and a privilege [to represent Canada] and I don’t take it for granted,” Noreau says. “I never thought I’d have the opportunity to [go to the Olympics] once, let alone twice so I’m definitely happy to have the opportunity.”

The lead up to the 2018 Games was very different from his Beijing experience, Noreau says. A handful of European tournaments provided Team Canada management with scouting opportunities to form a more cohesive team. Though it also made for a busier schedule for the players.

“Every time I’d get a break in Switzerland, instead of going on vacation like everyone else I’d be jumping on a plane in Zurich and going to Moscow or Finland or wherever [the tournament] was,” Noreau recalls. “So, to get that call [that he made the Olympic team], I definitely got choked up … just knowing all the stuff I had to go through to get there.

“Now I think my career, trying to be consistent, trying to be a good person, be a good guy in the room I think has paid it back where for [these Games] I didn’t have to showcase … people know what they’re getting.”

Noreau is in his third season with the ZSC Lions, his third club in Switzerland. Head coach Rikard Grönborg says ZSC has seven players in Beijing, not the least of them their lone Canadian defenceman.

“Max is a natural leader and continually inspires his teammates to perform to the best of the capabilities,” Grönborg says. “It is my honour and privilege to work with such talented players but more importantly wonderful and stand-up people.”

Salmond agrees, pointing out Noreau is wearing an ‘A’ at the Games.

“I think he’s a real pro … the way he handles himself, the way he is around the younger players and, again, that experience around Team Canada,” Salmond says. “Understanding the expectations we have as a program and a country in the way that we want to win and the way we want to play [is an asset to the team].”

“Anytime you get Canadians together in a room, especially a hockey room we all know what is expected of us,” Noreau says. “You can’t be scared to say your ultimate goal is to win the gold medal.”

A gold medal which would certainly be the featured item in an already packed Team Canada trophy case for one of the least well-known though highly decorated Canadian hockey players.

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SWEDEN (FEB. 16)

TV: CBC | Stream: CBC.ca

Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team is into the final eight at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, with a tough quarterfinal matchup on tap – it takes on Sweden on Wednesday.

LAST GAME

Canada rode its power play to a 7-2 win over host China in the qualification round on Tuesday. The Canadians scored four times in eight chances, with Jordan Weal scoring twice with the man advantage along with one each from Adam Tambellini and Jack McBain. Tambellini also scored a penalty-shot goal, Canada’s first since Petr Nedved in 1994, and added three assists for the first five-point game by a Canadian at the Games since Dave Gagner against Norway in 1984.

The Swedes closed out their preliminary round on Sunday, taking a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes through goals from Lucas Wallmark, Lukas Bengtsson and Anton Lander, only to see Finland erase that deficit in the third period and steal a 4-3 overtime win. While the loss dropped them out of first place in Group C, the single point was enough to earn them a bye through to the quarters.

LAST MEETING

The last Olympic meeting was a memorable one for Canadian hockey fans. That was Feb. 23, 2014, when Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz scored the goals and Carey Price made 24 saves to give Canada a 3-0 win and its ninth, and most recent, Olympic gold medal.

That was the last top-level meeting at any event; the teams last clashed at the IIHF World Championship in 2017 – also for gold – when Ryan O’Reilly scored and Calvin Pickard made 40 saves, but Sweden earned a 2-1 shootout victory for its 11th world title.

WHAT TO WATCH

Canada’s power play was deadly against the Chinese, counting four goals on eight chances. That could be key against the Swedes, who come into the game with the worst penalty kill in the tournament – they have allowed four PP goals on just 10 chances through three games. The Canadians, meanwhile, own the best PK in the field at 92.9% (just one PPG allowed in 14 opposition chances). Nobody wants a win-or-go-home game to be a parade to penalty box, but if that happens … the Canadians have a clear edge.

For the Swedes, Wallmark has been the straw that stirs the drink. He has scored four times in three games – almost half of the team’s total of 10 and sits tied for the tournament lead with 17-year-old Slovak wunderkind Juraj Slafkovsky.

A LOOK BACK

Canada has dominated the head-to-head history, winning 13 of 17 meetings (along with one tie). The early years were one-sided (as many games were in the first Olympic tournaments), with Canada outscoring Sweden 45-1 in a trio of wins between 1920-28. The Swedes didn’t earn their first win over Canada until 1984.

This is the third time the teams have met in an elimination game at the Olympics, and the first two were both for gold. Sweden had the edge in 1994 when Peter Forsberg scored his ‘Stamp’ goal in the shootout to give the Swedes their first gold, and Canada got its gold in 2014 (see ‘Last Meeting’ section above).

All-time record: Canada leads 13-3-1 (0-1 in shootout)
Canada goals: 89
Sweden goals: 30

GAME STATISTICS | LIVE GAME BLOG

BEIJING, China – Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games after downing host China 7-2 in the qualification round on Tuesday.

• Adam Tambellini (Edmonton, Alta./Rögle BK, SHL) led the offence with two goals and three assists, including a penalty-shot marker. Tambellini is the first Canadian to score on a penalty shot at the Olympics since Petr Nedved (Feb. 17, 1994 vs. USA) and the first to record five points in an Olympic game since Dave Gagner (Feb. 13, 1984 vs. NOR).
• Jordan Weal (North Vancouver, B.C./Ak Bars Kazan, KHL) chipped in with a pair of goals and an assist.
• Eric O’Dell (Ottawa/Dynamo Moscow, KHL), Eric Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./Iowa, AHL) and Jack McBain (Toronto/Boston College, HE) rounded out the scoring.
• Maxim Noreau (Montréal/ZSC Lions, NL) contributed three assists.
• Matt Tomkins (Sherwood Park, Alta./Frölunda HC, SHL) made 27 saves, including a penalty-shot stop off Spencer Foo early in the first period.
• Canada outshot China 45-29.

Next Game:
Canada vs. Sweden (quarterfinal) – Wednesday, Feb. 16 (8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT)

Quotes:
“I thought China was one of the best teams in the tournament at creating chances off the rush. If you are not back-checking well against them, they are going to take advantage of those opportunities. We were able to adjust and start playing better as the game went on, and [Tomkins] made some big saves to help us keep the lead. I think our players adjusted to China’s pressure well from the second period onwards, and we were able to take control of the game.”
- Head coach Claude Julien (Orleans, Ont.) on the difficulty of playing China

“We want to play games because we are hungry. We did not mind playing today. The game against China gave us another opportunity to get better and to find things in our game that we can improve on, and I think we did that tonight. We have always said that we need to get better every day, and just keep adding elements to our game that can help us win.”
- Weal on continuing to improve

“It is important for [our line] and our team that we are contributing on offence. Corban [Knight] and Jordan [Weal] are special players. They are easy to play with and fun to play with, and I am definitely happy to be contributing and it is great that all three of us are able to create scoring opportunities and capitalize on them.”
- Tambellini on his line’s contributions to the team

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Eric Staal was expecting to play hockey this season, but what he didn’t forecast was that it would be in China.

After finishing last season with the Montreal Canadiens as a key part of their impressive run to the Stanley Cup Final, the 37-year-old was planning on playing again this season.

As a free agent he was patiently waiting at home in Minnesota for another NHL contract to present itself. But as the season commenced with few tangible offers to weigh, Staal feared adding to his 1,293 NHL games and playing a 19th season might not materialize.

However, the slim prospect of returning to the ice in any fashion took an interesting turn prior to Christmas when the NHL and NHLPA announced they would not participate in the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Since Team Canada was still committed to sending a men’s team to Beijing, the recruitment process for general manager Shane Doan zeroed in on players not under NHL contract.

Enter Staal.

It didn’t take long for Doan to contact the veteran forward and inquire about his interest in an opportunity to represent his country internationally for a seventh time, including a second appearance at the Olympics. Both admit the phone conversation was brief and fruitful.

“It wasn’t the initial plan,” says Staal. “But that’s sometimes how life goes. You wait for certain doors to open and you run through them. That’s how it’s been for me that last little bit.

“And once (Shane) threw that at me, I jumped on the opportunity.”

In short order, Staal went from waiting for the phone to ring, shuttling kids to hockey practices and games and skating three times a week to stay in shape, to playing for Team Canada on the other side of the world and 14 time zones away from his family.

“It’s been a whirlwind month, but I’m super pumped to try and win a gold medal with this group of guys and for our country,” he says. “I’m going to try and take full advantage of it.”

According to Doan – who played against Staal for 13 seasons in the NHL and with him on two Team Canada entries at the IIHF World Championship in 2007 and 2008 – the only concern was whether the six-foot-four centre could push his body to an elite level again.

Staal cleared that hurdle easily, playing four games in the American Hockey League with the Iowa Wild in mid-January. He recorded two goals and five points in four games with Minnesota’s top affiliate and admits test-driving his body in that environment was an important step in committing to play for Canada.

According to Doan, the addition of Staal to the roster immediately boosted Canada’s chances of finding success in Beijing.

“He’s a guy that provides credibility,” he says. “And he’s a player that just finds a way to win.”

Over his storied career winning has been a frequent experience for the Thunder Bay, Ont., product. He’s won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, a gold medal at the 2007 IIHF World Championship and gold again at the 2010 Winter Olympics, all of which combine to make him one of just 29 members of the exclusive Triple Gold Club, and one of just 11 Canadians.

It was the last of those triumphant experiences 12 years ago in Vancouver that he cherishes deeply.

For starters, it came on Canadian ice, but it also allowed him to share in the experience of being an Olympian for the first time. Areas like understanding the “spirit of the Games,” watching other sports and meeting other athletes were just a few fond personal takeaways.

“Those memories from 2010 are still fresh in my mind,” he says. “You don’t realize how quickly time goes by.”

Staal remembers vividly starting the tournament with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry and finishing the gold medal game win over the United States on a line that included Sidney Crosby and Jarome Iginla.

Now a little older and certainly more experienced, Staal understands his role with Team Canada this time around will be different, especially since he’ll wear the ‘C’ as captain.

It’s a position he’s comfortable in accepting and a responsibility he’s honoured to carry.

“It’s about grabbing ahold of this chance,” he says. “I will be doing what I can do to help out and for us to find success.

“There could be moments where I can hopefully shine through with some of (my experience). I’ll do my best to be myself and be that guy for the group.”

As the Hurricanes captain for seven seasons, Doan says it was a natural fit for Staal to assume the distinction of being Team Canada’s ultimate leader, as he emits a natural aura both on and off the ice that is invaluable.

“He’s a big centre that gets around the ice well, goes to the net, finishes and plays both ends of the ice. Playing against him was a pain,” says Doan.

“And then to see his presence in the room and with the guys and he’s the leader of the group. And rightfully so. There were a few decisions that might have been hard but [making Staal captain] wasn’t one of them.”

Now back at the Olympics for a second time, Staal acknowledges this experience of playing in Beijing is not only another chance to win gold, but also a culturally enlightening time of his life.

“It’s been pretty cool and definitely unique,” he says. “It’s been a treat to be here and an excellent setup. It’s a place I likely would have never travelled to without this experience.”

As with every Canadian hockey contingent on the international stage, there is an expectation to win. This tournament is no different. Doan and Staal understand that outlook and believe this version of Team Canada has the makeup to bring another Olympic gold back home.

“When you’re Team Canada, there’s a level of expectation in the dressing room and around the world,” says Doan. “When you play for (Canada), I don’t care what we’re doing, where we’re doing it, we expect to win.”

Staal maintains experience should aid in understanding the commitment it will take to be successful.

“It’s not going to be show up and put our sticks on the ice and get it done. I like the balance we have within our team. It’s going to be extremely competitive. We’re excited for our chance to perform.”

Should Canada prevail in this showcase and deliver another package of gold hardware, could it be a fitting way for Staal to end his career?

He says he’s not thinking that way.

“My focus is this group and this opportunity,” he says. “And a chance to try and accomplish the dream of winning a gold medal. If there’s another opportunity in the NHL after, I would be excited for that chance but if not … We’ll see what happens after this tournament.”

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CHINA (FEB. 15)

TV: CBC | Stream: CBC.ca

It’s déjà vu all over again for Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team, which takes on China for the second time in three days, this time in a win-or-go-home showdown Tuesday in the qualification round.

LAST GAME

Canada and the Chinese faced off Sunday to close out Group A play. Matt Tomkins was terrific in his Olympic debut, earning a 26-save shutout, and goals within the first 11 minutes from Ben Street, Adam Tambellini and Eric O’Dell sent the Canadians to a 5-0 victory.

LAST MEETING

Did you read the last section? Sunday. Prelim finale. 5-0 win.

WHAT TO WATCH

The Canadians continue to spread around the scoring, but as the playoff round begins and the stakes get higher, who will step up as the go-to offensive option? Seventeen of the 20 skaters who have played a game have recorded points, with Kent Johnson and Eric O’Dell leading the way with four apiece. Depth is never a bad thing, but will there be one player who impacts the big moments? And who will be between the pipes? Edward Pasquale got the call in the first two games, but Tomkins was perfect against the Chinese.

China – icing 12 Canadian-born players – didn’t look too far out of its element in the preliminary round. Outside of a one-sided loss to the U.S., it pushed the Germans in a one-goal defeat and tested the Canadians, particularly through the second period when it hit a couple of posts. The Chinese will be heavy underdogs, but in a home-ice Olympics, looking to prove they belong with the world’s best, they won’t be an easy out.

A LOOK BACK

Just the one previous meeting, all of 48 hours ago. That was the first-ever international game between Canada and China.

Since first competing in the IIHF World Championship program in 1972, the Chinese have never gone higher than the second tier of competition, and have won just five of 59 games at that level. They finished 2021 as the 32nd-ranked men’s program in the world, sandwiched between Spain and Australia.

All-time record: Canada leads 1-0
Canada goals: 5
China goals: 0

GAME STATISTICS | LIVE GAME BLOG

BEIJING, China – Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team wrapped up the preliminary round at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games with a win, shutting out host China 5-0 on Sunday.

• Eric O’Dell (Ottawa/Dynamo Moscow, KHL) and Kent Johnson (Port Moody, B.C./University of Michigan, Big Ten) led the offence with a goal and an assist each.
• Ben Street (Coquitlam, B.C./ EHC Red Bull München, DEL), Adam Tambellini (Edmonton, Alta./Rögle BK, SHL) and Corban Knight (High River, Alta./Avangard Omsk, KHL) rounded out the scoring.
• Josh Ho-Sang (Thornhill, Ont./Toronto, AHL) and Tyler Wotherspoon (Burnaby, B.C./Utica, AHL) chipped in with two assists apiece.
• Matt Tomkins (Sherwood Park, Alta./ Frölunda, SHL) posted a 26-save shutout in his Olympic debut.
• Canada outshot China 44-26.

Next Game:
Canada vs. China (qualification round) – Tuesday, Feb. 15 (8:10 a.m. ET/5:10 a.m. PT)

Quotes :
“We are going to do another pre-scout [on China], and they are going to do the same for us over the next few days. We are expecting China to play another tough game against us, and likely give us an even harder challenge in the qualification round. Our guys are going to come ready to play, and we have one day to work on some things and make sure we do everything we can to put ourselves in the quarterfinals.”
- Head coach Claude Julien (Orleans, Ont.) on playing China in the qualification round

“When you get into the elimination round, you need to have all four lines contributing. Right now, we have a lot of chemistry on every line and we need to keep building that. We have been getting better every game and you can see that in the way we are playing. We have an idea of what to expect in our next game, and [China] has some really good players, but we need to keep getting better and building off every period.”
- O’Dell on getting scoring from all four lines

“It is a pretty crazy and amazing feeling. I am really proud, and honestly there are not enough words to describe how it feels to [get a shutout at the Olympics]. I am just really honoured to be here with this group, and to be able to represent Canada and make people proud is something that will not sink in for a while. This is one of those experiences that will get even more special with time, but for now I am just trying to enjoy every second of the experience.”
- Tomkins on earning a shutout in his Olympic debut

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Four years ago was a moment Mat Robinson will never forget.

As his wife, daughter, family and friends cheered him on in the stands, he captured an Olympic bronze medal with Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang.

With nine years of professional hockey under his belt, you may have expected the then-31-year-old to make a career decision after the Olympics. But Robinson had no plans of slowing down.

“I still felt like I had quite a bit of hockey left in me,” he says. “I was playing for CSKA Moscow in the KHL, and I was on a very, very good team. For me, I just wanted to keep playing there and enjoy my time there.”

Robinson was motivated by the opportunity to win a championship with his team—a goal he achieved in 2019 when CSKA Moscow won the Gagarin Cup—although the chance to represent his country again at the Olympics provided him with an additional boost to keep playing hockey.

“It definitely was in the back of my mind, I’m not going to lie,” the defenceman says. “I always knew that this chance could possibly be there. You never know where you’re going to be four years after an Olympics. I knew I just had to take it one day, one season at a time and keep playing at the level that would be leaving me in a position to actually make this team.”

Becoming a two-time Olympian is something Robinson never could have imagined. The Calgary, Alta., native was not drafted into the Western Hockey League nor the National Hockey League.

He played four seasons with the University of Alaska Anchorage, serving as captain in his final season. After completing his degree, Robinson played a handful games with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL and split the 2009-10 season between the American Hockey League’s Binghamton Senators and the ECHL’s Elmira Jackals.

“I didn’t have a great start to my career,” he says. “I just kind of felt like there was nothing there for me. I didn’t want to be classified as an [ECHL] kind of hockey player, and I felt like that’s what was going to happen.”

After one season in North America, Robinson looked overseas to continue his dream of playing professional hockey.

“I just felt the European game may be more for me,” he says. “At the end of the day, at that point in my career, it’s more just thinking, ‘OK, well maybe I can go play a couple of years over there and see how it goes.’ If not, I get to live in a foreign country, live on the other side of the world.”

Robinson signed in Norway with Sparta Sarpsborg for one season, then moved to the Swedish Hockey League and spent two seasons with Timrå IK. After three years overseas on good teams, he achieved his goal of playing in the KHL by signing with Dinamo Riga.

“I played my first year in the KHL and I didn’t really know what to expect. I got on a good team with great teammates that kind of showed me the ropes and showed me what it was all about. That’s when it just started clicking.”

After signing with Dynamo Moscow for the 2014-15 season, Robinson found a new level of confidence within his game.

“My first year playing actually in Russia, that’s when I was like, ‘I can do this, I can be one of the best players in this league,’” he says. “And I just tried to run with it.”

Since his first year in Norway, Robinson has played for six teams in three leagues in four countries over 12 seasons. Throughout his entire journey, he’s had his biggest supporters with him every step of the way: his parents Trevor and Cindy.

“They did everything for my hockey career, they’re my biggest fans,” he says. “My dad coaching me as a young kid and showing me everything—he still to this day is giving me tips on what to do.

“I owe them everything. They’ve made the biggest sacrifice to get me to where I am.”

Robinson’s hockey career has also opened his parents to new life experiences and memories.

“Our son has planned some of the best holidays to his hockey adventures for us,” Trevor says. “He played in Norway; we were there. He played in Sweden; we were there. Latvia, we were there. We’ve been to Moscow, places I would have never gone had it not been for his journey.”

“We’ve travelled to so many different places to be with him and share his experience in that country that he’s at, at that time,” Cindy adds. “To see him progress and reach to the top limit that he’s at, it’s phenomenal.”

Although they may be an ocean apart most of the time, Robinson has always stayed connected to his family back home in Canada.

“It’s amazing what we can do now considering when he first went to Alaska,” Cindy says. “When he was going to college, it was so hard to keep connected, but now it’s so easy and it’s so good. It’s like he’s here at home but he’s not.”

One of Trevor and Cindy’s favourite memories from Robinson’s hockey career was being able to cheer him on in person as he won bronze in PyeongChang. Although they won’t be in-person to support him this time in Beijing, the family is ready to cheer him on back at home.

“To have a chance to go back again, as Mat said himself, he has a chance to get that gold,” Trevor says. “We’re so proud of him. To see where he’s gone through his ventures and to be a two-time Olympian is amazing to us. [We’re] hoping he gets the opportunity to do something great on the ice and bring home a gold for Canada.”

Looking back, Robinson never could have imagined he’d be in Beijing today for his second opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics.

“It’s another dream come true for me,” he says. “Not in a million years would I have ever expected to play 13 seasons of professional hockey, and now to be a two-time Olympian is just complete icing on the cake for me.”

He might not have taken what many consider to be a traditional route in the game, but his goal is to inspire other young players going through the same thing to never give up on their dreams.

“I’ve had guys reach out to me and say they’ve looked at my career path and want to do the same thing. It’s nice to see that I’m able to help out other guys that have maybe not had all the accolades of going straight to the NHL.”

As for his future in hockey after Beijing, Robinson still has the door wide open to opportunities.

“Even though I’m 35 now, I still feel like I got a lot of hockey in me,” he says. “I’m more than excited to be here and I’m glad that everything worked out for me.”

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CHINA (FEB. 13)

TV: CBC | Stream: CBC.ca

Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team closes out the preliminary round on Sunday in Beijing, taking on the host Chinese needing a win to keep their hopes of guaranteed quarterfinal spot alive.

LAST GAME

Canada was doubled up 4-2 by the United States on Saturday afternoon (Friday night in Canada). Mat Robinson scored just 84 seconds in, Corban Knight added a shorthanded marker late in the second period and the Canadians enjoyed a 37-27 advantage in shots (including 17-5 in the final 20 minutes), but they saw their record fall to 1-1.

Down 2-0 after one period and 3-0 less than five minutes into the second, China made things interesting against Germany on Saturday – Parker Foo scored before the end of the middle frame and Tyler Wong counted midway through the third, but the hosts came up one short in a 3-2 loss. Jeremy Smith was terrific in goal, making 35 saves.

LAST MEETING

This will be short … there was no previous meeting. This will mark the first time Canada and China have faced off in men’s international hockey at any level.

WHAT TO WATCH

Can the Canadians do enough to wrap up a quarterfinal spot? While the loss to the U.S. all but erases any chance of it finishing atop Group A, Canada can still advance straight through to the quarters and avoid a qualification game if it ends the preliminary round as the best second-place team. That will come down to goal differential (Canada is currently +2), unless a game between two top teams in another group needs overtime – like the Sweden-Finland game that closes out Group C. With all that said, the Canadians first need to take care of business against China, and doing it with a multi-goal cushion wouldn’t hurt.

The Chinese lineup includes 11 Canadian-born players who qualified for the roster through either ancestry or playing long enough in China to gain citizenship. Of those 11, two have experience with Hockey Canada in the Program of Excellence – Zach Yuen played for Pacific at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and Ethan Werek did the same with Ontario in 2008 and won gold with Canada at the 2008 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka summer under-18 tournament.

A LOOK BACK

As mentioned above, Canada and China have never met in men’s international hockey.

Since first competing in the IIHF World Championship program in 1972, the Chinese have never gone higher than the second tier of competition, and have won just five of 59 games at that level. They finished 2021 as the 32nd-ranked men’s program in the world, sandwiched between Spain and Australia.

All-time record: First meeting
Canada goals: 0
China goals: 0