Uninspired Canada upset by Latvia in a shootout at world juniors

By Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press on December 27, 2024.

Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs (29) turns to make a save against Canada with help from Martins Klaucans (right) during first period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round action in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA – Eriks Mateiko scored the only goal of the shootout as Latvia stunned an alarmingly uninspired Canada 3-2 at the world junior hockey championship Friday.

The forward moved in on his country’s eighth effort before firing home a goal to register one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.

Mateiko and Peteris Bulans scored in regulation for the hard-working Europeans in their first game of the 10-team showcase in the nation’s capital. Linards Feldbergs stopped 54 shots over 65 minutes. Bruno Osmanis had two assists.

Calum Ritchie and Jett Luchanko replied the tournament hosts, who are coming off a disappointing fifth-place finish last year in Sweden. Jack Ivankovic made 24 saves.

Canada, which is going for its 20th gold medal, entered with a 4-0 record and a combined 41-4 scoreboard edge all-time against Latvia at the event, including a 10-0 victory some 12 months ago.

After the Latvians tied the game 1-1 on a man advantage in the third period, Ritchie blasted a one-timer upstairs off an Easton Cowan feed.

But Canada’s Ethan Gauthier was whistled for hooking with just over three minutes to go and Bulans tied it on that power play with 2:29 left.

Canada took a penalty for too many men on the ice in 3-on-3 overtime, but survived that short-handed situation to force the shootout not many saw coming before the opening faceoff.

Ivankovic is just the third 17-year-old goaltender to play for Canada at the under-20 tournament, and the first to start a game since Jimmy Waite in 1987. Brian Finley got into a period of action at age 17 in 1999.

The goaltender from Mississauga, Ont., started in place of Carter George on the tail end of a back-to-back after he made 31 saves in a 4-0 victory over Finland in Thursday’s opener.

Hockey Canada’s brain trust led by Peter Anholt spoke before the tournament about how the group was much better prepared this time around following the disastrous performance in Gothenburg that saw the powerhouse bounced by Czechia in the quarterfinals.

The coaching staff led by Dave Cameron was in place early, while the program also held a summer camp and hired a full-time scout.

The management team insisted all the pieces were in place. There were, in short, no excuses.

Canada, however, didn’t have many answers against one of the sport’s minnows on Friday despite dressing 11 first-round NHL picks and three other players expected to go high at the next two drafts.

A disjointed performance in the opening 20 minutes was marked by an injury to star defenceman Matthew Schaefer – a 17-year-old potential top pick at the 2025 NHL draft – after he crashed into the Latvian net on a power play off the rush.

Ivankovic had to be sharp on a couple of penalty kills and another chance in alone off the stick of Olivers Murnieks.

Things didn’t improve much from there.

Canada did get on the board 3:28 into the middle period when Luchanko stole a puck on a penalty kill and scored on a breakaway after Feldbergs decided to stay in his crease.

The Canadians, 0-for-3 on the power play against Finland, dropped to 0-for-6 later in the period after two largely lifeless man advantages.

With his team seemingly content to stay on the outside and not challenge the Latvians for the middle of the ice – an unfortunate hallmark of the country’s 2024 iteration – Cameron lit into his players on the bench late in the period.

The crowd at Canadian Tire Centre tried to lift the country’s teenagers midway through the third period, but the group continued to search for answers that simply weren’t there to be found.

Canadian defenceman Andrew Gibson then took an elbowing penalty to set up Mateiko’s equalizer with 6:42 left in regulation before Ritchie and Mateiko traded goals late.

YOUNG GUNS

Cameron said before the game Canada’s trio of 17 year olds – Gavin McKenna, Ivankovic and Schaefer aren’t getting special age-related treatment.

“If we thought they needed any special service, they probably wouldn’t belong on the team,” said Cameron, in charge of the world junior bench for a third time. “We don’t want any additional obstacles like having to pamper guys through scenarios. We’ve got enough work to do as it is.

“As much as they’re young, they’re mature.”

FAMILIAR FACES

Canadian forward Berkly Catton and defenceman Caden Price were neighbours growing up in Saskatoon, while captain Brayden Yager’s family moved to the city from Prince Albert, Sask., when he was 11.

“We all dreamt about this,” Catton said. “We’re just living and enjoying it.”

UP NEXT

Latvia faces the U.S. on Saturday. Canada meets Germany on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024.