GDT: Latvia Vs Canada | 7:30PM | Group A - Canadian Tire Centre

[SoundAndFury]

Isn't Bob Hartley responsible for setting the foundation for Latvian junior hockey? If so, good on him. Wish we had him behind the bench in MTL helping out MSL.

He was the head coached of the senior team. As was Ted Nolan before him. Other than possibly carrying an inspiring aura that helped the Latvians to get better at hockey, that's where their responsibilities ended. They hardly have anything to do with the foundation, just like any other journeyman coach.

 

[johnnyonthspot]

Imagine beating Finland 4-0, then the next day losing to Latvia.

Back to backs plus travel are tough

 

[Divine]

It's probably been discussed already, but Easton Cowen's shootout "attempt" was genuinely embarrassing as a fan of hockey. The shittiest/worst/dumbest attempt I have ever seen. Goes in slow, does a bunch of stickhandling drills on the blue line skating towards the boards, slows down more and does more stickhandling, does not one but TWO stupid leg kicks then has a pathetic shot. Get the f*** off this team you clown.

This guy is trash and I am so glad Leaf fans over inflate this goofball, what an awful player. Guy is also incredibly selfish out there, him and Ritchie are both selfish clowns that tried to play hero hockey in the third, you donkeys aren't Connor Bedard, f*** off and pass it to Gavin.

And yet Canada likely gets 0 points if not for Cowan setting up the 2nd goal.

Canada went 0 for 8 in the shootout. Taking it out on one player for not scoring when not a single member of the team did in 8 opportunities seems incredibly biased.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

Really happy for Latvia!

Always fun to see Canada fail in spite of the recurrent IIHF bootlicking and the barely-concealed efforts to let them win this tournament year after year.

It's just one game, though. They'll probably fire on all cylinders next game and play as dirty as ever.

 

[glue]

Haven’t followed this tourney too closely, but can’t lose to Latvia the way this team did - they have no ‘ice in your veins’ type players. My prediction is no medal for Canada this year yet again.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

He is good, but not generational.

I'm just here for the Easton Cowan scouting reports.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Canadians should file a protest. Latvia used an illegal player. No way Kurbaka is 19!!

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I think that is a Latvian thing.

I went to high school with the Latvian ambassadors son (first post Soviet). He had a thick beard when we were 16, which was awesome because he could do all the beer runs for us.

 

[therealdeal]

Great game and congrats to Latvia!

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Canada was trying to play fancy all night. They deserved the result because they played as though they figured they could go full Harlem Globetrotters on an "inferior" opponent.

Also, the PP is atrocious. Not sure what exactly the coaching staff wants them to do, but it just seems like a bunch of skate around the perimeter than fire shots through a crowd and hope for the best.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Latvia. Wrong Baltic country.

Wait, I thought it was Estonia...???

 

[Leaf Fans]

[/QUOTE]

I'm just here for the Easton Cowan scouting reports.

You'll get them here. How much stock you put into them is up to you.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Wait, I thought it was Estonia...???

You're thinking of the rhythmic gymnastics WJC.

 

[Maverick41]

I just woke up to this. Wtf happened?
Man, I know this does not bode well for Germany's chances to avoid the relegation round, but I don't care. This makes me so fing happy for Latvia.
What a result. Keep it up and go for that 2nd or 3rd place finish in the group. I'll be rooting for ya, and just hope we can handle Kazakhstan.

 

[Kalv]

Isn't Bob Hartley responsible for setting the foundation for Latvian junior hockey? If so, good on him. Wish we had him behind the bench in MTL helping out MSL.

He certainly did play some part. There was a lot of talk about how he helped to swithch the culture completely, from playing not to lose for playing to won. Also how players and personell treat each other, etc. He let different trainer seminars, etc. Was more than just a coach.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I just woke up to this. Wtf happened?
Man, I know this does not bode well for Germany's chances to avoid the relegation round, but I don't care. This makes me so fing happy for Latvia.
What a result. Keep it up and go for that 2nd or 3rd place finish in the group. I'll be rooting for ya, and just hope we can handle Kazakhstan.

Because it was overtime/shootout win, if the rest holds serve then that would still make Germany/Latvia a winner take all to get the quarterfinal spot.

 

[Kalv]

He was the head coached of the senior team. As was Ted Nolan before him. Other than possibly carrying an inspiring aura that helped the Latvians to get better at hockey, that's where their responsibilities ended. They hardly have anything to do with the foundation, just like any other journeyman coach.

I disagree on this one

 

[PanniniClaus]

Nah, that's a losers mentality.

Come with the possibility that you might win, not with the expectation that you'll lose. I remember C. Ronaldo called out Iceland at the Euros for the same thing. They celebrated a win in a group stage game and Ronaldo said that's a losers mentality.

What are you going to say, Iceland has accomplished way more than C. Ronaldo ever has? Oh yeah, your personal attacks don't mean much.

I really am not sure what tangent you have gone on. I can tell you I was at the Stade Geoffrey Guichard in 2016 when Iceland drew Portugal 1-1 and celebrated like they won.. Why the hell not?

Iceland would beat England in the round of 16 and only bow out to France in the QF. It's easy to talk about mentality when you win more than you lose. You have to start somewhere and this is Latvia's somewhere.

Celebrate because playing back to back against the US will be difficult and they have just done something no other Latvian Junior team has done.

 

[Divine]

I really am not sure what tangent you have gone on. I can tell you I was at the Stade Geoffrey Guichard in 2016 when Iceland drew Portugal 1-1 and celebrated like they won.. Why the hell not?

Iceland would beat England in the round of 16 and only bow out to France in the QF. It's easy to talk about mentality when you win more than you lose. You have to start somewhere and this is Latvia's somewhere.

Celebrate because playing back to back against the US will be difficult and they have just done something no other Latvian Junior team has done.

They should celebrate. The tournament isn't over though.

 

[WarriorofTime]

They should celebrate. The tournament isn't over though.

This about as keen an insight as saying whichever team scores more will win.

 

[PanniniClaus]

They should celebrate. The tournament isn't over though.

Of course not. They can finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th in the division.

 

[Divine]

Of course not. They can finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th in the division.

Yeah, that's all I said.

If your team wins Game 1 of the regular season and every player throws up their gloves and hugs each other waiting for a banner raising - I would also think it's excessive.

If this game was an elimination game, or it guaranteed Latvia advances, go all out. But it's meaningless unless they win some more.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I still hate that shootouts can decide a winner and a loser. Though I also hate that 3 on 3 can decide a winner and a loser. You play 60 minutes of a game that doesn't involve any 3 on 3 and then decide to say "Hey let's decide this hard fought game on 3 on 3 and then a skills competition if no winner.

If you’re TC against Latvia and you let it get to 3 vs 3 OT or SO, then you have no one to blame but yourself.

There’s no reason for them not to win in regulation against this kind of opposition.

 

[admiralcadillac]

Top 3 best wjc games I’ve seen

 

[garbageteam]

Because it was overtime/shootout win, if the rest holds serve then that would still make Germany/Latvia a winner take all to get the quarterfinal spot.

Man imagine beating freaking Canada and still going to relegation. Brutal.
Hell imagine getting an off-night vs Kazakhstan and actually getting relegated.

 

[Rob]

It would be best if the players avoid social media for a while