A summit hasn’t been called, but Canada’s latest disappointment at the World Junior Hockey Championship, has certainly spurned conversation and debate across the country.
For a third straight year Czechia defeated Canada, and this time the Canadians featured 17 first round NHL drafted players.
On paper Canada should have rolled to a gold medal. But games aren’t won on paper.
Czechia was the better, stronger, more physically imposing team Sunday night in a 6-4 semi-final victory in Minnesota.
Less than 24 hours later Canada did rebound with a 6-3 win over Finland to capture its first bronze medal at the tournament since 2012.
Most so-called hockey experts and pundits offered their takes on the Canadians performance, but the one that stood out the most to this reporter came from a former World Junior player that wore the red and white and went on to play 14 years in the National Hockey League.
Carlo Colaiacovo had this to say during a responding conversation on X (formerly Twitter):
“Minor hockey in Canada can share the blame too. Kids between ages 10-16 Chase W’s and build super teams, while training with numerous skills coaches to improve their individual game instead of focusing on being coached and developing to play the game of hockey. Players on super teams don’t know how to lose and then struggle to deal with adversity. I see it first hand and it’s very troubling”
Much to Colaiacovo’s point, Ontario opened its residency rules this year meaning any player, from any team, any region can play for the centre they choose.
Sure, Matthew Schaefer could have played on defence or newly named Canadian Olympian (Men’s Team) Macklin Celebrini could have been in Minnesota, but the bottom line other countries have caught up to Canada talent wise, and more importantly perhaps ‘want’ wise.
Calgary Flames defenseman Zayne Parekh set a Canadian World Junior single-season tournament record with a goal and an assist in the bronze medal game giving him 13 points and breaking the record held by former Niagara IceDogs blueliner and captain Alex Pietrangelo who had 12 points back in 2010.
“it’s kind of cool to have, but at the end of the day, I wanted to leave here with a gold medal, and I’m a little bit disappointed with that,” said Parekh
This was Canada’s first medal since winning gold at the 2023 World Juniors in Halifax, marking its longest medal drought ever. The Canadians are winners of an all-time record 20 gold medals.
Sweden captured gold later Monday with a 4-2 victory over Czechia.
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
