WJC: 2025 Team Canada Roster Talk

[MarkovsKnee]

Incredible to me that in the blaming players game (especially in the GDT) somehow the loss was 90% on Cowan and 10% on Bonk.

You guys realize two players took penalties in the 3rd that lead directly to goals?

Or that the PK played awful and had multiple chances to clear the puck right before goals were scored. One player had the puck on his stick, muffed a clearing attempt and it was in the back of the net 5 seconds later. Yet somehow none of these players got any criticism from the peanut gallery.

It’s so transparent how some players are held to a different standard because people hate their NHL team.

That would be Andrew Gibson. He took the elbowing penalty that led to Latvia's 1st PPG. Then gave the puck away on the Gauthier PK that led directly to PPG 2 five seconds later. His puck handling skills pretty much sucked all game.

The biggest issue is the coach:

1. Dickinson has more assists than Bonk has points (Dickinson 31a, 46 pts; Bonk 21 pts) yet Bonk is the PP D. Wth?

2. Why didn't Luchanko play in OT? His speed is epic & he drives the net. You need speed 3 on 3.

3. How the f*** do you get a too many men penalty in OT? You just need to be able to count to three.

4. Team shooting was terrible all game. Shoot-out just clarified that for everyone. We should have brought at least one big time goal scorer: hello Misa, for 3 on 3, shootouts & PPs.

 

[VeteranPresence]

They've won 5 of the last 10 World Juniors - with the NHL taking their best players, but I am sure you could have done better.

Is 50% really something to brag about when Canada owns/operates the three best junior leagues in the world plus has access to players in the USHL and NCAA?

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

 

[Dingo]

Anyway, I am done. Win or lose, I'll stand by the kids and the team. GO CANADA GO !!!!

you should support the team.

its ok to question authority, however. They arent automatically right, or wrong, just because they are in a position of power.

Forums allow people to display their opinions on subjects like this, and many people disagreed with the coach and some selections, or rather leave offs, prior to this loss.

Doesnt mean people arent rooting for this team to get back on track.

 

[scotian1]

No one is blaming the players. It is obvious that these players should have beaten Latvia. They didn't because of the game plan devised by the Latvian coach and the Latvian players carrying it out, falling back and clogging the middle of the ice causing the majority of Canadian shots to come from less than optimal scoring areas. ( How many odd man rushes did Canada have, few if any!) The big problem was Canada did not change their style of play to counter this.

 

[DJJones]

Honestly I get going for chemistry/role players in the Olympics. The "4th line grinder" is still a NHL 1C, likely even an allstar. The 6'4 farm boys are still obscenely skilled in the NHL,

But to do that for teenagers is crazy. The skill gap between 1st rounders and some generic 3rd year grinder is WAY larger.

Put out a team of studs and just let them outscore the other team. Having a legitimate PP would have iced the game early.

 

[Knave]

No one is blaming the players. It is obvious that these players should have beaten Latvia. They didn't because of the game plan devised by the Latvian coach and the Latvian players carrying it out, falling back and clogging the middle of the ice causing the majority of Canadian shots to come from less than optimal scoring areas. ( How many odd man rushes did Canada have, few if any!) The big problem was Canada did not change their style of play to counter this.

I agree I think a lot could be fixed with this group under the right coaching.

There are some easy fixes like swapping Bonk out on the powerplay. Shuffling the lines around so players complement each other better.

The problem is all of this is contigent on Dave Cameron and the people high up in Hockey Canada having humility, introspection and being willing to put their egos aside. None of them have shown the ability to do this.

 

[JackSlater]

Nice, now hopefully Rehkopf gets on the ice as well. Ideally for Cataford but there are a few options.

Honestly I get going for chemistry/role players in the Olympics. The "4th line grinder" is still a NHL 1C, likely even an allstar. The 6'4 farm boys are still obscenely skilled in the NHL,

But to do that for teenagers is crazy. The skill gap between 1st rounders and some generic 3rd year grinder is WAY larger.

Put out a team of studs and just let them outscore the other team. Having a legitimate PP would have iced the game early.

Basically. I think we all know that if Canada and Latvia played ten more times Canada wins 9 or 10 of those games. But that one game distilled the obvious issues very clearly. Canada limited its own potential with the pieces it took, but the pieces are still there to make a winning team. There are two issues at play. The roster problems cannot be fixed, but hopefully the coaching can.

 

[therealdeal]

He has made his bed the last year and a half withactions on the ice.

 

[wetcoast]

When a vast majority found the many of the decisions strange before the tournament, and then you lose to Latvia it’s not called Monday morning quarterbacking - it’s called foresight.

Canadian hockey has a certain arrogance to it, and I’m totally down with that - however it comes with being questioned, and expectations to perform.
Hope they turn it around, we’ll see what these guys are made of soon enough.

Hockey Canada's arrogance only being matched by some Monday morning QB's in this thread.

Let's see how they respond first before wetting the bed.

I'm sure the same bed wetters will be glee full when the US of A beats Latvia handily today right?

 

[wetcoast]

Anyway, for @JackSlater and all the rest of you "experts", here is the link for careers at hockey Canada....

Hockey Canada Careers

Hockey Canada employs over 100 staff in Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto and Regional Centres. Apply to current job postings or send your resumé for future career opportunities with the national governing body for grassroots and high performance hockey in Canada.

www.hockeycanada.ca

If they won't hire you, here is the link for jobs at the NHL...

NHL Team Jobs

Connect with 1,500+ employers from the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NWSL, college athletics, sports tech startups, agencies, arenas, and more

www.teamworkonline.com

Please send them your posts prior to yesterday's loss and explain how you would have done a better job.

P.S. When they don't hire you, you can say it's because Hockey Canada is an old boys club and you were passed over because you don't have the proper connections.

They wouldn't be wrong though and while I resent some of the bed wetters HC does make an easy target as the team construction for this tournmanet was mind boggling to say the elast.

That being said unless Canada wins every game and every gold there will be criticisms.

If the tournament was like the NHL playoffs with 7 game series they would probably win every gold but this is a tournament and upsets do happen.

 

[NeverForget06]

Why are people in here defending Hockey Canada lol - why? It's a ridiculous organization and these guys think they are brilliant because they get to pick from the best crop of talent in the whole world every year and any one of us could do their jobs.

Nowadays with things more competitive their lack of actual skill is showing. Add to that all the rest of their shady behaviours, their stupid views on junior hockey and coaching - who is supporting this ??

 

[Dingo]

The rest of the world is slowly clipping away at the Canadian dominance in ice hockey.

not really.

it comes in waves. One group gets better and it pushes others to improve.

At one time only the Soviets and kind of the Czechs could compete with Canada

Then the Americans and Swedes had wicked crops of players. Czechs won Gold in Nagano. Americans in 96

Canada at this time was quite bad at the Juniors - Lidstrom, Jagr, Hasek and Forsberg were some of the very best players in the league. Arguably even the four best around 2000.

Canada got serious. And pretty soon you have that 2005 Junior team, followed by adult dominance.

The States have stepped up huge, and with their money and population, they are an actual fulltime threat.

The Swedes and Finns are SO good per capita, but they are small countries. They have some great crops and can beat Canada in those eras, but it comes and goes,

And the ex-Soviet countries are trying to find their way back still, imo. Russia has done really well at recovering and are always a threat. The Czechs and Slovaks havent been consistently good since their 90s crops... well, maybe since they were Czechloslovakians, I guess. I mean, they won with Hasek and Jagr, but those were products of the od regime, i think.

In short - Canada has been down before, but it doesnt last long, and it isnt because we are the spunky underdogs like we like to pretend. We have ALWAYS been the real Big Red Machine. Hockey is an industry here, its all we care about, and we will always pump out tons of great players. No other country, aside from Alberta-sized Finland, cares as much.

States are a serious threat, though.

 

[Crosby2010]

Why are people in here defending Hockey Canada lol - why? It's a ridiculous organization and these guys think they are brilliant because they get to pick from the best crop of talent in the whole world every year and any one of us could do their jobs.

Nowadays with things more competitive their lack of actual skill is showing. Add to that all the rest of their shady behaviours, their stupid views on junior hockey and coaching - who is supporting this ??

I have loathed Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League brass for probably 30 years. Whether it is bringing in Euros to train and play our way or showing clear bias or politics when it comes to picking teams and having the arrogance to think they can never be wrong. Throw in the ripple effect of how expensive they've made the game for the middle class and there is very little to like about Hockey Canada. There have been awful team selections over the years even when we've won.

Hockey Canada's arrogance only being matched by some Monday morning QB's in this thread.

Let's see how they respond first before wetting the bed.

I'm sure the same bed wetters will be glee full when the US of A beats Latvia handily today right?

USA does need to beat them badly today. That will be good for us if they do. Because it will get Cameron and the players off the hook if they do well against the US. It should humble our boys and make us realize that our rivals have no problems with them so why did we? Might make them take off their rose coloured glasses. Might make them work harder. I know the word "work" is a dirty word with Canada these first few games but they aren't going to just get handed their gold medals.

 

[Turin]

keep politics out of it lol the countrys fine

Found the kid who doesn’t pay for his own stuff

 

[Eternal Leaf]

What's the point of being a coach if you can't make the best talent work together? This is why I've always laughed at the idea of leaving good players behind because they "don't fit" a certain perspective.

Maybe do your job and get them to fit and buy in instead of taking inferior players.

This year takes the cake with the amount of talent they left off the roster. Disgraceful.

 

[nucks88]

Of course they do. The US is winning hockey tournaments at the junior level as much as anyone... if not more. It's only a matter of time before they win a best-on-best, and that could well be at the 4 nations.

For our younger people on here that may not know this, when TSN first started broadcasting the WJC 35 years ago (my first year of watching as well), the US was a mid-tier team. Somewhere in the range of a Czechia or Slovakia. Just look how far they've come. To quote Michael Scott "How the turn tables.........."

The 4 Nations is not a best on best without Russia…..

 

[Heldig]

They left most of the best players at home. I hope they do not get a medal. Need huge changes in Hockey Canada.

C'mon this is such a trite comment. Define "most of the best"? Are you saying the majority of the top players in junior hockey dont deserve to be there?

Which ones?

I get that a few of the top young players did not make the team. And obviously a few of your favourite prospects. But most of the best implies there are at least a dozen better players - maybe more - than are on the current roster. That is a huge reach.

 

[Wondercarrot]

Hockey Canada's arrogance only being matched by some Monday morning QB's in this thread.

Let's see how they respond first before wetting the bed.

I'm sure the same bed wetters will be glee full when the US of A beats Latvia handily today right?

Wait…wasn’t this year supposed to be the response to last year? Seems like game 1 would be a good place to start.

Its such a relief you’re here to explain to everyone what’s permissible.
you make sure you come back jump in and let people know when it’s ok to question management.
Some people might say it’s after you lose to a team who has won 2 games in its entire WJC history - a team they beat 10-0 last year.

Not you though, you’re made of sterner stuff.

 

[Mitch nylander]

I'd make some pretty major lineup changes coming into game 3.

Cowan - Ritchie - Mckenna
Martone - Catton - Rehkopf
Gauthier - Luchanko - Yager
Cataford - Beaudoin - Nadeau
Pinelli

Press Box: Howe

Notes:
Line 1: Cowan & Ritchie have worked well together, I think adding a better third wheel like Mckenna, would put them over the top. That one shift they played together for Mckenna's goal was awesome
Line 2: Rehkopf & Martone have been one of the most dynamic duos in the O, Catton brings a lot of Skill.
Line 3: Yager deserves some more minutes, Luchanko has been effective on the forecheck with his speed and I like Gauthier's work effort.
Line 4: Nadeau is hard on the forecheck, with a game suitable for the bottom 6, Beaudoin is heavy on the forecheck and has played centre in Barrie. Cataford gets some more opportunity.

Pinelli - I think he doesn't belong, but I think he could be used sparingly on offensive zone face-offs and on the PP.

Defence keep pretty much the same, but make major changes to the PP.

PP1:
Net Front: Jett Luchanko
Left Flank: Easton Cowan, Center: Calum Ritchie Right Flank: Gavin Mckenna
Point: Sam Dickinson

PP2:
Net Front: Cole Beaudoin
Left Flank: Porter Martone Center: Berkley Catton Right Flank: Carson Rehkopf/Luca Pinelli
Point: Tanner Molendyk or Caden Price

 

[TonsofPuppies]

People seem to be forgetting that despite the warts and lack of finish in the game Canada really outplayed Latvia.

If Canada doesn't blow out everyone the bed wetters come out in droves.

No idea what you've been watching. Canada has been straight up bad and has had a hell of a time scoring goals for the entire pre tournament and now into the tournament itself. It's a bad team. Lots of talent left at home. Very poor roster construction being lead by a clown behind the bench. If this team medals, I would be shocked.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Having Bonk running your powerplay and playing every other shift is criminal. He should be their 6th or 7th dmen at best and he doesn’t even quarterback London’s powerplay.

Hockey Canada screws themselves with stupid political and galaxy brained roster decisions. Leaving their two most talented dmen after Schaefer at home is just asking to be embarrassed. Their D-core sucks. Sure the guys they took instead are 2nd and 3rd rounders who are really good junior players. But as others have mentioned the talent difference between them and Yakemchuk and Parekh is huge and that makes a big difference in a tournament like this with tougher competition.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

Having Bonk running your powerplay and playing every other shift is criminal. He should be their 6th or 7th dmen at best and he doesn’t even quarterback London’s powerplay.

Hockey Canada screws themselves with stupid political and galaxy brained roster decisions. Leaving their two most talented dmen after Schaefer at home is just asking to be embarrassed. Their D-core sucks. Sure the guys they took instead are 2nd and 3rd rounders who are really good junior players. But as others have mentioned the talent difference between them and Yakemchuk and Parekh is huge and that makes a big difference in a tournament like this with tougher competition.

Cameron is stuck in 2005. The game isn't played the way he built and coaches the team.

 

[NVious]

Honestly I get going for chemistry/role players in the Olympics. The "4th line grinder" is still a NHL 1C, likely even an allstar. The 6'4 farm boys are still obscenely skilled in the NHL,

But to do that for teenagers is crazy. The skill gap between 1st rounders and some generic 3rd year grinder is WAY larger.

Put out a team of studs and just let them outscore the other team. Having a legitimate PP would have iced the game early.

To add to this point, junior games often break down into run and gun scenarios. The idea that you wouldn't have the best talent on the team is very stupid considering that it's impossible to implement a true high level system in a few weeks and ultimately they are still kids learning how to play (not pros at all).

 

[darthwispy]

PP1:
Net Front: Jett Luchanko
Left Flank: Easton Cowan, Center: Calum Ritchie Right Flank: Gavin Mckenna
Point: Sam Dickinson

PP2:
Net Front: Cole Beaudoin
Left Flank: Porter Martone Center: Berkley Catton Right Flank: Carson Rehkopf/Luca Pinelli
Point: Tanner Molendyk or Caden Price

I'm with you on a lot of this but you don't put Ritchie in the bumper position on the powerplay. That is literally getting rid of his biggest strength in that he is an unreal passer. Cowan being left handed on the left side also gets rid of a one timer being a possibility there, swap the 2 and it could work. I don't know if Cowan's playstyle works in the bumper position either though. But Ritchie should be a given to be on that wall for the first power play unit as the best right handed forward in my opinion.