Canada opened their 2025 Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship (WJC) with a 4-0 victory over Finland. This one was fairly convincing even acknowledging the 2 late insurance coverage objectives they potted to make a Finnish comeback go from unbelievable to unimaginable. What have been three large takeaways from the night time?
Canada Dominates Puck Possession However Not the Scoreboard
Towards one of many higher groups on this match, Canada didn’t give an inch. They relentlessly pelted photographs on the Finnish protection by means of a lot of the sport, so their 4-0 victory—aided by two objectives within the ultimate 5 minutes—was underwhelming on the scoreboard. Whereas such a decisive on-ice product towards an excellent crew is a optimistic, not with the ability to money in on quite a few alternatives might be a priority transferring ahead. After the USA scored 10 objectives towards Germany, the Canadians might want extra sooner or later.
Associated: Information to the 2025 World Junior Championship
This doesn’t imply Canada didn’t have their moments of excellence, although. The sequence that noticed 17-year-old Gavin McKenna report the opening tally of the sport was a promising one. A passing lane opened up after an excellent sequence within the offensive zone—draft-eligible Matthew Schaefer took benefit and McKenna did the remainder.
17 12 months outdated Gavin Mckenna will get the group going!🇨🇦💥 #WorldJuniors #FINCAN @hockeycanada pic.twitter.com/m9wo1CvTlw
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 27, 2024
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan capitalized off of a Finnish turnover and put the puck at the back of their internet. To place the sport out of attain late within the third interval, Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Luca Pinelli struck off a feed from the Seattle Kraken’s Caden Value to make it 3-0. A protracted-range empty-net tally from Schaefer sealed it, 4-0.
It’s foolish to get labored up over a sport that noticed Canada put Finland by means of the wringer for 60 minutes. However with so many prolonged possessions within the offensive zone, extra must end in objectives. Despite the fact that they received by 4, the crew wasn’t significantly sensible in that regard. When these contests turn out to be do-or-die in January, these prolonged intervals of management will dwindle. It’s necessary to strike when you will have the prospect.
This additionally will get to the purpose of Canada’s energy play. It didn’t do poorly, however lacked the snarl essential to blow the sport open—they went 0-for-3. The second unit appeared higher than the primary by the attention check, so which may be one thing to construct on.
Canada’s Defencemen Will Make or Break the WJC
Typically, the perfect defence is an effective offence—Canada’s defenders exemplified that to a tee. Everybody did their half to maintain the puck within the offensive zone, whether or not it was pinching or making lovely passes like those Schaefer and Value did to permit the crew’s forwards to blossom.
Canada’s defencemen have been very spectacular. They spent little time of their zone and have been noticeably clear with their exits, enabling a easy transition again into Finland’s finish. In addition they prevented high-danger photographs till the final couple of minutes when the Finns went for broke and emptied their internet.
Simply normally, the worth of defencemen is underrated in best-on-best hockey. Although it wasn’t the case on this one, there tends to be lots of back-and-forth in these high-stakes video games. Canada wants its defenders to consistently be making the correct performs to first exit their zone after which get the puck up the ice for an opportunity the opposite means. The extra the puck is in your zone, the upper the probability of errors—it’s the job of the blue-liners to easily get it out. Not solely did they do that, they introduced some offensive firepower as well.
Carter George Made a Assertion
Chosen by the Los Angeles Kings within the second spherical of the 2024 NHL Draft, Carter George was tasked with a giant sport to open the match. He didn’t face a ton of high quality rubber, however he was poised between the pipes and prepared for every part that got here his means. He stopped all 31 of Finland’s photographs.
George’s standout efficiency ought to give Canada some confidence transferring ahead. There’s a really actual likelihood this squad will probably be in a nail-biter of a sport with the match on the road. When that occurs, your goaltender must be stellar—something brief may value you every part, even should you’ve been the higher crew all through the sport.
Contemplating Canada’s lack of ending capability till very late, maybe there was a world the place this one didn’t go of their favor or was tighter than it ended up being. George’s calmness within the internet will probably be essential in the event that they wish to go far this winter. Objectives will probably be robust to come back by typically, so goaltending must be there to choose up the slack. George understood the task, particularly within the final two minutes when Finland had an empty internet—that’s when he really shined, sustaining his shutout regardless of being peppered with scoring possibilities. His positioning was flawless all night time.
Subsequent up, Canada will tackle Latvia at Canadian Tire Centre at 7:30 p.m. EST on Dec. 27. It’ll be Latvia’s opening contest of the 2025 WJC.
Join our NHL Prospects & Draft Substack publication
