Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada香蕉视频直播檚 hotel.
The temperature had been turned way up on the veteran hockey executive and the country香蕉视频直播檚 under-20 program after a stunning upset some 12 hours earlier.
香蕉视频直播淵ou only want to talk to me when things are bad, eh?香蕉视频直播� Anholt joked to reporters Saturday morning.
香蕉视频直播淚s that how this works?香蕉视频直播�
That is indeed what happens when a powerhouse with a record 20 gold medals expected to roll over an opponent suffers one of its worst all-time defeats at the tournament.
Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia 香蕉视频直播� a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings 香蕉视频直播� in a shocking shootout Friday.
Coming off a disastrous fifth-place finish last year in Sweden and having talked a lot about upping their compete level and preparation, the Canadians looked disjointed for long stretches against the plucky, hard-working Latvians.
The power play finally clicked late in the third period, but stands at 1-for-7 through two games, while the top line of Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau has yet to translate its pre-tournament chemistry into success in the spotlight.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e certainly trying to problem solve, but not throw the baby out with the bath water,香蕉视频直播� said Anholt, who heads the world junior setup. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e got to be really careful.香蕉视频直播�
Canada, which picked up a solid 4-0 victory over Finland to open its tournament Thursday, had plenty of offensive zone time and directed 57 shots at Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs. Included in that total, however, were far too many one-and-done efforts from the perimeter with little traffic in front.
There were, of course, desperate spurts 香蕉视频直播� especially late in regulation and in 3-on-3 overtime 香蕉视频直播� but not nearly enough for a roster peppered with first-round NHL draft picks and top prospects.
香蕉视频直播淲e played really, really hard,香蕉视频直播� Anholt said in defending his players. 香蕉视频直播淲e controlled the puck lots. We created some chances. Their goalie was really good and they defended really good 香蕉视频直播� 99 times out of 100 we win that game.香蕉视频直播�
Hoping for a big response Sunday against Germany before meeting the United States on New Year香蕉视频直播檚 Eve to tie a bow on round-robin action in Group A, Canada will have to push ahead minus one of its best players.
Star defenceman Matthew Schaefer was injured Friday and is done for the tournament after he slammed into Latvia香蕉视频直播檚 net and skated off favouring his left shoulder area.
香蕉视频直播淭ough blow for the kid,香蕉视频直播� Anholt said. 香蕉视频直播淭he way he plays the game, he plays it at such a high speed.香蕉视频直播�
Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round selection, said Canada remains confident despite Friday香蕉视频直播檚 ugly result in the nation香蕉视频直播檚 capital.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e good,香蕉视频直播� said the 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont. 香蕉视频直播淓veryone香蕉视频直播檚 lost a hockey game before.香蕉视频直播�
But not like that 香蕉视频直播� or to that opponent on that stage.
香蕉视频直播淏it of a (crappy) feeling,香蕉视频直播� said Nadeau, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect from St-Francois-de-Madawaska, N.B. 香蕉视频直播淲e all know what this group is capable of. Losing that game is not our standard.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檒l bounce back.香蕉视频直播�
Some corners of social media exploded following the Latvian debacle, with heavy criticism directed at head coach Dave Cameron and the team香蕉视频直播檚 overall roster construction.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e not really worried about it,香蕉视频直播� defenceman and Ottawa native Oliver Book, who like Cowan is back from last year香蕉视频直播檚 team, said of the outside noise. 香蕉视频直播淲e know we didn香蕉视频直播檛 play well.香蕉视频直播�
Canada appears poised to mix things up against the Germans. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., is set draw in for Schaefer, while Anholt indicated there香蕉视频直播檚 a good chance forward Carson Rehkopf will get his first crack at the 2025 tournament as a returnee.
The 19-year-old Seattle Kraken second-round pick from Vaughan, Ont., has scored a combined 78 goals over his last 97 regular-season and playoff games in the Ontario Hockey League.
香蕉视频直播淕reat player,香蕉视频直播� Cowan said. 香蕉视频直播淗e finds ways.香蕉视频直播�
Anholt said taking a big-picture approach is key in challenging moments.
香蕉视频直播淟et香蕉视频直播檚 not panic,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he world hasn香蕉视频直播檛 fallen in. It香蕉视频直播檚 hard, but we香蕉视频直播檒l learn from it.香蕉视频直播�
It香蕉视频直播檚 something Canada will have to do under intense scrutiny.
香蕉视频直播淧eople are gonna love you and people are gonna hate you,香蕉视频直播� said Cowan, who has a goal an assist through two games. 香蕉视频直播淕otta keep doing you.香蕉视频直播�
Anholt, who was also at the helm 12 months ago when Canada never got in gear, isn香蕉视频直播檛 getting 2024 vibes from this year香蕉视频直播檚 group.
香蕉视频直播淣ot even in any way, shape or form,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e just got to take care of business.香蕉视频直播�
They get a first shot at redemption Sunday.
