Defending Champion Canada Ousted From World Juniors On Late Czech Goal In Quarterfinals

Jakub Stancl scored his second game goal with 11.7 seconds left in the third period as the Czech Republic defeated Canada 3-2 and advanced to the global junior hockey championship semifinals in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Tuesday.

The other Czech goal came from Tomas Cibulka. Michael Hrabal made 28 saves to earn the victory.

For Canada, Matthew Wood and Jake Furlong responded. Mathis Rousseau made 19 saves and took the loss in his fifth consecutive under-20 tournament appearance.

“It feels like the world is coming to an end a little,” Canada captain Fraser Minten said. “This is an incredible opportunity for all of us in our careers.” You never know if you’ll get another chance to represent your country or play on such a worldwide scale.”

The Canadians dominated the last 40 minutes until Stancl struck a shot on goal in the dying seconds of regulation that rebounded off the sticks of two Canadian players before beating a surprised Rousseau.

Defending Champion Canada Ousted From World Juniors On Late Czech Goal In Quarterfinals

“I felt like I gripped my stick a little too tightly,” said Matthew Poitras of Canada. “I couldn’t find the net’s back.” It stinks. I let some of these individuals down, as well as the country.

The quarterfinal on Tuesday was a rematch of last year’s gold-medal game in Halifax, which Canada won 3-2 in overtime. Five members of the Czech team competed on Tuesday, with forward Owen Beck serving as Canada’s lone returnee.

“Our heads are kind of just spinning right now,” Beck remarked. “I’m not sure what happened. It’s a terrible way to wrap things off here.”

After missing Sunday’s 6-3 triumph over Germany due to a lower-body injury, Canadian winger Matthew Savoie returned to the lineup on Tuesday.

Conor Geekie returned to Canada as well. Following his game reprimand for an illegal check to the head 11 seconds into Sunday, the big forward avoided suspension from the International Ice Hockey Federation’s disciplinary panel.

Defending Champion Canada Ousted From World Juniors On Late Czech Goal In Quarterfinals

Rousseau saved Eduard Sale on a 2-on-1 early in the second half, trailing the Czech Republic 2-0 after 20 minutes.

Wood scored his second goal a few minutes later, cutting the Czechs’ lead in half at 3:43 and giving the visiting Canadian fans hope.

With 3:20 left in the period, Furlong’s point shot beat the six-foot-seven Vondras with Geekie in front, bringing the team in red back into the game.

Canada could only capitalize on the game’s first power play once Brayden Yager hit the post from the slot early in the third.

With just over four minutes remaining in regulation, Savoie had a fantastic chance but shot wide.

Canada had a promising start to the game despite missing five eligible players in the pros and two more due to injury or illness but missed a couple of nice shooting opportunities.

Defending Champion Canada Ousted From World Juniors On Late Czech Goal In Quarterfinals

The Canadians, who were vying for their third straight gold medal and the country’s 21st overall, fell behind 1-0 at 7:51 of the first period when defenseman Noah Warren made a terrible read in the neutral zone, and Stancl shot his second of the tournament short side on Rousseau.

When Warren slashed Dominik Rymon on a breakaway, the Czechs were awarded a penalty shot, but Rousseau saved it with a poke check.

The Canadian goaltender came in with a.924 save % in four starts and was at fault for the 2-0 goal with 1:59 remaining in the game when Cibulka sent a point shot over a screen that went through Rousseau.

Before his teammates finally broke through on the hulking Hrabal, the 19-year-old undrafted goalkeeper answered with his big stop early in the second.

SOURCE – (CBC)