WJC: 2025 Team Canada Roster Talk

[NyQuil]

Well today is the day, I had tickets for the knockout round but I decided to come back to England after how disgusted I was with the performance NYE (joking of course). I’m not hopeful given that I think the Czechs are the team that gave Canada the biggest stylistic issues of all the teams they played, and I would say the team best built to win this tournament, but here we go. I think the keys tonight are:


-Score first; with a lot of the same players, we saw how structured and compact Czechia once they took a 2-0 last year and were only undone by a bad line change

-bodies in front of Hrabal. Hard to see who will be able to do it since there are so many small perimeter forwards on the team, but perhaps today can be the day for players like Beaudoin and Howe to show they can cause chaos

-Dickinson and Molendyk need to get involved bringing the puck back to front. Schaefer caused the Czechs a lot of issues when activating, this needs to be taken advantage of


-Last one is obvious I guess, discipline



I’m not hopeful but I’ll wish for the best

“Screw this, I’m going to England” is one of the more unique reactions to this tournament.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

Per Mark Masters, looks like Rehkopf will be the healthy scratch this evening. While he took a few dumbass penalties vs the U.S., I thought he looked good on the forecheck and for an offense-starved team removing one of your best shooters is certainly…a choice.

Interesting decision.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Per Mark Masters, looks like Rehkopf will be the healthy scratch this evening. While he took a few dumbass penalties vs the U.S., I thought he looked good on the forecheck and for an offense-starved team removing one of your best shooters is certainly…a choice.

Interesting decision.

I mean for a couple days fans have wanted Cameron to have more of a reaction to the undisciplined penalties. This is that, shooting the goalies stick away was arguably the worst one. But yeah I would not have made this choice either.

 

[jj cale]

Per Mark Masters, looks like Rehkopf will be the healthy scratch this evening. While he took a few dumbass penalties vs the U.S., I thought he looked good on the forecheck and for an offense-starved team removing one of your best shooters is certainly…a choice.

Interesting decision.

Yet Howe absolutely must play.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Inexcusable given the obvious chemistry problems on the team, these guys often play like strangers in a shinny game. What is wrong with this coaching staff, it’s like their sabotaging this team.

 

[davewheeler]

Let’s not pretend that he wasn’t the OHL player of the year and memorial cup mvp last year. But i agree he should be surrounded by more talented guys who can score. But the hate for this teenage kid playing for his flag is embarrassing.

I didn't say he needs new line mates I said he needs to play less... Cowan was double shifting with different guys so his line mates aren't the problem as you suggest. Yah does he get those awards if hes not on LDN.He defiantly was not the best player in the O last year and he may not have been the best player on his team but for whatever reason he gets the benefit of the doubt.. I do agree the people going on his social media are weird people

 

[Bileur]

As I said, only some of the smugness.

I don’t know, I think focussing 100% of the complaints on roster construction and coaching suggests most Canadian fans attribute the loss to their own team’s failure rather than giving credit to a strong performance by Latvia.

If anything that confirms that smugness and hubris are alive and well.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

This coaching staff might be stealing Steve Spotts place at the top of the awful Canadian coaches in this tournament. They seem to just full on not be coaching these kids at all. To the point I almost feel bad for the kids. Just being lined up for this endless criticism because of an incompetent leader.

 

[ottawarenegader613]

Inexcusable given the obvious chemistry problems on the team, these guys often play like strangers in a shinny game. What is wrong with this coaching staff, it’s like their sabotaging this team.

Sounds like the inmates are running the asylum.

 

[Mathieukferland]

This coaching staff might be stealing Steve Spotts place at the top of the awful Canadian coaches in this tournament. They seem to just full on not be coaching these kids at all. To the point I almost feel bad for the kids. Just being lined up for this endless criticism because of an incompetent leader.

Tim Hunter still holds the crown for me. Horrible power play (run by a man so incompetent he has since left junior hockey to become a real estate agent), taking the best player in the country and making him the 13th forward and wondering why he doesn’t produce, and sending an injured grinder in the shootout in overtime against Finland. Complete lack of offence and deference to grinders like Leason and Comtois to play heavy minutes

Spott I was too young to remember fully but given the stacked roster he had it seems like they should have been able to medal

 

[Namejs]

I don’t know, I think focussing 100% of the complaints on roster construction and coaching suggests most Canadian fans attribute the loss to their own team’s failure rather than giving credit to a strong performance by Latvia.

If anything that confirms that smugness and hubris are alive and well.

That is true, some of the posters seem to be disgusted by the loss, having a 4 pixel resolution and understanding of global hockey. Canada good, Latvia bad. What coach doing.

That obviously ignores both long-term trends in Latvia, short-term variance in the number of NHL prospects in a given age cohort, which is huge for smaller hockey countries, and general trends in international hockey.

Losing 10-0 a year or two ago has no carry-over. It's a different team, a different talent level that this time matches that of, say, Slovakia.

But I wouldn't call that hubris, that's just general ignorance.

 

[Matttheleaf]

So if Rehkopf is coming out because of penalties and so Dave Cameron can look accountable, then why isn't Pinelli coming out? He has 8 penalty minutes which is among the most in the tournament, had less ice time last game than Rehkopf and doesn't play on the second powerplay. I wonder why he hasn't drawn out of the lineup this tournament...

 

[JackSlater]

Inexcusable given the obvious chemistry problems on the team, these guys often play like strangers in a shinny game. What is wrong with this coaching staff, it’s like their sabotaging this team.

I don't know what the f*** they are doing. But neither do they, which is more concerning. The 2005 Canadian team could have just rolled out of bed and won the tournament. This team cannot. Insane if that is really a choice they have made. Rehkopf coming out is also not the choice for a team that struggles to score and lacks shooters.

I don't want my mind to wander too much here but from these non-practices to Cameron's comments and general attitude regarding not being able to control undisciplined play... it feels like there is a conflict between him and at least some of the players. I don't know.

Tim Hunter still holds the crown for me. Horrible power play (run by a man so incompetent he has since left junior hockey to become a real estate agent), taking the best player in the country and making him the 13th forward and wondering why he doesn’t produce, and sending an injured grinder in the shootout in overtime against Finland. Complete lack of offence and deference to grinders like Leason and Comtois to play heavy minutes

Spott I was too young to remember fully but given the stacked roster he had it seems like they should have been able to medal

They are both contenders for worst, Letang and Lowry belong as well from recent years. Real Paiement was one of the worst, and if I recall correctly was a guy who showed up having never won a thing or even contended with any consistency. Canada won some tournaments with bad coaching (thanks goaltenders) as well.

That is true, some of the posters seem to be disgusted by the loss, having a 4 pixel resolution and understanding of global hockey. Canada good, Latvia bad. What coach doing.

That obviously ignores both long-term trends in Latvia, short-term variance in the number of NHL prospects in a given age cohort, which is huge for smaller hockey countries, and general trends in international hockey.

Losing 10-0 a year or two ago has no carry-over. It's a different team, a different talent level that this time matches that of, say, Slovakia.

But I wouldn't call that hubris, that's just general ignorance.

I don't know what you are looking for but Canada should not ever accept losing to Latvia as anything but an unacceptable result. It also does not good to pretend that Latvia just came in and outplayed Canada and there is nothing to be done about it. Good for Latvia for winning, they played well and gave themselves the chance to get the result. Canada also very clearly played badly. We don't need to play pretend for the sake of.... I don't even know who.

 

[Rude Dog]

I didn't say he needs new line mates I said he needs to play less... Cowan was double shifting with different guys so his line mates aren't the problem as you suggest. Yah does he get those awards if hes not on LDN.He defiantly was not the best player in the O last year and he may not have been the best player on his team but for whatever reason he gets the benefit of the doubt.. I do agree the people going on his social media are weird people

I can see how you interpreted what I wrote that way. What I meant was more talented players who were omitted like Misa, Senecke etc around him. Cowan is a hardworking kid who can provide offence but shouldn’t be relied on as the core player to create goals. We agree on that

 

[davewheeler]

I can see how you interpreted what I wrote that way. What I meant was more talented players who were omitted like Misa, Senecke etc around him. Cowan is a hardworking kid who can provide offence but shouldn’t be relied on as the core player to create goals. We agree on that

100 percent ... I was especially surprised at Misa and Parekh not even being invited to camp as Lazary is their coach ... I feel like that creates such an awkward dynamic for Saginaw. We will see what happens tho... Canada definitely isn't done in this tournament. I can see a USA/Canada finals and when it was 1-1 in the usa game I thought Canada had a real shot to win.

 

[Slats432]

Per Mark Masters, looks like Rehkopf will be the healthy scratch this evening. While he took a few dumbass penalties vs the U.S., I thought he looked good on the forecheck and for an offense-starved team removing one of your best shooters is certainly…a choice.

Interesting decision.

As long as Luca Pinelli is around to punch guys in the face, we good.

 

[Kingpin794]

I wonder why Lazary was brought on as an assistant to Cameron. It doesn't look like the team is using ANY of his influence out there. It is 100% a 67's system. Unless Hockey Canada is getting Laz some experience for next year, him being brought on to run this kind of hockey is mind boggling. This has to be driving him crazy. Would love to see him take the talent pool that is available to Canada and just let the players off the leash.

 

[thaman8765678]

Please tell me they are sitting that bum Easton Cowan tonight.

There is no way you can play him after the last few games. I'm embarrassed he is on our roster.

 

[Luc Labelle]

I think Cameron's strategy is for his players to take as many penalties as possible, because if they play 60 minutes a game shorthanded then it will be impossible to be scored against 5 on 5 (a WJC record of no 5 vs 5 goals against which could never be broken and much finer than a gold medal).

 

[Slats432]

Please tell me they are sitting that bum Easton Cowan tonight.

There is no way you can play him after the last few games. I'm embarrassed he is on our roster.

It already looks like Rehkopf.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Not trying Martone and Rehcroft once this tournament is completely ridiculous. Why even bring them?

 

[jigglysquishy]

I hope Hockey Canada takes a serious internal look at this entire process to reevaluate. It's been a few years now the team selection process has been a mess.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

I’ve defended Pinelli since the start of the tournament as a 67s fan, as I thought he was quite good up until the U.S. game and at least deserving of being in the lineup. But he is a hothead and over-compensates for his small size by acting like a tough guy at times.

I would have sat him for today’s game.

As long as Luca Pinelli is around to punch guys in the face, we good.

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[NordiquesForeva]

One play I’d like to see Canada use today is to send Luchanko on the long icing play. Luchanko can really fly. It’s a play that Cameron has used with the 67s.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Not trying Martone and Rehcroft once this tournament is completely ridiculous. Why even bring them?

Martone sitting is actually insane when they’re struggling to score, complete bonehead move