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

[OilersFanatics505]

he had a bad try in the shootout but can we cut the nonsense jesus just cause he's a leaf

He had two seconds of a player kneeling in front of him and he still decided to shoot it right into him… in a tie game… with under 2 minutes left.

 

[PaulD]

And that's the problem right there, you should not be happy that a country that is normally relegated just beat you on your home turf. It shouldn't bring you joy. We are soft as a country, and it shows in our hockey program and our fans.

"that's the problem" lol. Oh the drama.
It was an upset. An epic one, but an upset none the less.
Be a good humbling loss for the cocky Canafians. They came into the tourney talking alot about "crowd sizes" and " "electricity" and the " biggest stage"
Just go out and play hard. Nobody cares about your "cellys" after a goal either. Ha!

 

[The Blue Baron]

And that's the problem right there, you should not be happy that a country that is normally relegated just beat you on your home turf. It shouldn't bring you joy. We are soft as a country, and it shows in our hockey program and our fans.you arthey lost.

Wow did you come up with that all by yourself?

I blame the soft Canadian fans for the loss personally.

 

[The Blue Baron]

I would have loved to see your reaction to tying Italy in the round robin with the world’s greatest player on the roster.

I guarantee you that the gulf between Canada and Italy at that tournament was far greater than that between Latvia and Canada at this one.

The only reason this game wasn’t a tie is because of the shootout.

You go on and on about Gretzky and his work ethic and this is a guy who tied Italy.

Maybe cut them a little slack.

Agreed.

On another note good luck against my Jets tonight. I’ll be in attendance.

 

[NyQuil]

Agreed.

On another note good luck against my Jets tonight. I’ll be in attendance.

Well, I hope the Sens put up a good fight.

We’re a bit down with Ullmark out for awhile during one of the hardest stretches of our schedule but the other guys are going to have to step up.

Jets are a wagon so Ottawa will have their work cut out for them.

 

[LeafsNet]

I personally believe most of the anger online is coming from those who placed bets, which MANY did.

Tragic I must say.

 

[tabness]

And that's the problem right there, you should not be happy that a country that is normally relegated just beat you on your home turf. It shouldn't bring you joy. We are soft as a country, and it shows in our hockey program and our fans.

brother i dont even really know where Latvia is but reactions like yours the past few pages is exactly why i love that they won lol

 

[NyQuil]

I personally believe most of the anger online is coming from those who placed bets, which MANY did.

Tragic I must say.

This is one of the reasons why the house always wins.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

I personally believe most of the anger online is coming from those who placed bets, which MANY did.

Tragic I must say.

What kind of odds were people getting on Canada? Couldn’t have been much of a return

 

[Crosby2010]

You're hysterical - "soft as a country"? It's one preliminary game in a junior hockey tournament.

The lack of national pride in this thread is insane. They lost to Latvia. How people don't think heads should be rolling over this astounds me.

I would have loved to see your reaction to tying Italy in the round robin with the world’s greatest player on the roster.

I guarantee you that the gulf between Canada and Italy at that tournament was far greater than that between Latvia and Canada at this one.

The only reason this game wasn’t a tie is because of the shootout.

You go on and on about Gretzky and his work ethic and this is a guy who tied Italy.

Maybe cut them a little slack.

I'd say the level would be the same. 1982 was not our best players. Italy would have likely had their best players. Latvia has their best players here, it is a best on best for the age group at the WJC even though we've left a lot of talent at home. Either way they still didn't lose to Italy. We were never considered to be winning those tournaments anyway. We won the Worlds in 1994 but hadn't done it since 1961. We are expected to be a favourite or co-favourite in the WJC every year. I'll give the 21 year old Gretzky some credit, he led the tournament in scoring. And while we're at it, we didn't win in 1982 either did we? Maybe there was a reason we tied Italy, we weren't good enough. When does a team lose a catastrophic loss like last night against Latvia and then still win the gold? I still can't find one as bad as this one from last night.

I have watched enough hockey to not be upset when a game like that happens. We probably win that game 9/10 times. Canada is by no means out of it.

I know we aren't out of it, we still can win 1st in our division. But if they don't learn from being beaten by the worst team in the tournament then this will be a short tournament for them.

Dude stop writing essays with no substance.

We beat Latvia 10-0 a year ago. It’s hockey, sometimes you run up against a hot goalie.

This sky is falling nonsense is dumb

That's the thing, it wasn't a hot goalie. There weren't highlight reel saves. There were lots of shots, but Canada didn't start playing like Canada until the tying goal and then overtime. They cooked their own goose. Their shootout attempts were pitiful. All that skill and that was the best we had? There were a lot of low percentage chances for shots. Plenty of easy ones to make. In 2014 in the Olympics we ran into a hot goalie against Latvia. We still won, but that would be the equivalent of running into a hot goalie. We barely skated in the 1st period. In the 2nd period the shot differential was 15-11 at one point. It was not a good effort. We picked a rotten coach, we left a TON of great players off the roster and we are seeing the fruit of that. If we win it will be in spite of those bad choices.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

Canada deserves all the shame, not even for this just in general.

 

[Crosby2010]

On a more serious note, I wish Canadians like you would get all rilled up when a supposed “ally” to Canada threatens its very existence by referring to it as the 51st state. Canada’s entire Foreign Policy and Trade Policy are firmly in control of Washington rather than Ottawa. Canada’s relationships with China and Russia have been destroyed thanks to the United States.

That doesn’t bother anybody it appears, but God forbid if someone congratulates Latvia for winning a hockey game.

Come on now.

We should keep it to hockey.

brother i dont even really know where Latvia is but reactions like yours the past few pages is exactly why i love that they won lol

If you aren't a Canadian, then I get it. I'd laugh too if one of our rivals got pounced by a weak opponent. But if you are a Canadian why on earth would you be cheering against them?

Wow did you come up with that all by yourself?

I blame the soft Canadian fans for the loss personally.

It trickles down everywhere. The fans are too passive and forgiving and they don't get angry enough at these losses. Hence, the players don't play angry either. Did you see a single ounce of passion from the players last night? I saw sloppiness, entitlement and not paying attention. Our best defenseman ran into a goalpost simply because he wasn't paying attention. He wasn't tripped. If you aren't scoring, at least hit some bodies out there.

 

[My3Sons]

The lack of national pride in this thread is insane. They lost to Latvia. How people don't think heads should be rolling over this astounds me.



I'd say the level would be the same. 1982 was not our best players. Italy would have likely had their best players. Latvia has their best players here, it is a best on best for the age group at the WJC even though we've left a lot of talent at home. Either way they still didn't lose to Italy. We were never considered to be winning those tournaments anyway. We won the Worlds in 1994 but hadn't done it since 1961. We are expected to be a favourite or co-favourite in the WJC every year. I'll give the 21 year old Gretzky some credit, he led the tournament in scoring. And while we're at it, we didn't win in 1982 either did we? Maybe there was a reason we tied Italy, we weren't good enough. When does a team lose a catastrophic loss like last night against Latvia and then still win the gold? I still can't find one as bad as this one from last night.



I know we aren't out of it, we still can win 1st in our division. But if they don't learn from being beaten by the worst team in the tournament then this will be a short tournament for them.



That's the thing, it wasn't a hot goalie. There weren't highlight reel saves. There were lots of shots, but Canada didn't start playing like Canada until the tying goal and then overtime. They cooked their own goose. Their shootout attempts were pitiful. All that skill and that was the best we had? There were a lot of low percentage chances for shots. Plenty of easy ones to make. In 2014 in the Olympics we ran into a hot goalie against Latvia. We still won, but that would be the equivalent of running into a hot goalie. We barely skated in the 1st period. In the 2nd period the shot differential was 15-11 at one point. It was not a good effort. We picked a rotten coach, we left a TON of great players off the roster and we are seeing the fruit of that. If we win it will be in spite of those bad choices.

I get the frustration but this isn’t a referendum on Canada as a hockey entity and it’s a tournament for kids. Big talented kids sure but at 17-19 they are barely more than adolescents. This sort of game will happen once in a while. I expect they bounce back fine. Do you really think the replacements at hockey Canada would be any better than the current staffers? I’m skeptical.

 

[Zippgunn]

I am loving all the hand wringing going on amongst Canadian fans here; we got beat by a super hot goalie, full stop. Happens. Next...

 

[Crosby2010]

I get the frustration but this isn’t a referendum on Canada as a hockey entity and it’s a tournament for kids. Big talented kids sure but at 17-19 they are barely more than adolescents. This sort of game will happen once in a while. I expect they bounce back fine. Do you really think the replacements at hockey Canada would be any better than the current staffers? I’m skeptical.

On team selections alone I would say a good chunk of us on these boards would be able to do a far better job. You are telling me that you wouldn't be able to select a better team than this one for 2025? Our entire CHL, the NCAA players, etc. This sort of game should NEVER happen. Ever. They have outscored Latvia 41-4 in the 4 games prior to this. You NEVER lose to a team like this. You just can't, it isn't good for team bonding or morale. It is demoralizing. This is a country that is only playing in this tournament because they were able to hold off Austria in the relegation round a couple of years ago. People act like this is an up and coming team and yet we beat them 10-0 12 months ago. You can't just shrug it off. You have to have more pride in your country and your hockey program. Someone's ass needs to be fired over this. Multiple people.

I am loving all the hand wringing going on amongst Canadian fans here; we got beat by a super hot goalie, full stop. Happens. Next...

No we didn't. He wasn't a hot goalie. Show me the acrobatic saves he made. We did not play our best game and our scoring chances did not match the 56 shots we took. You don't lose to these sort of countries if you are claiming to be the best in the world. You lose to Finland. Maybe you lose to Switzerland, maybe. Latvia? No.

 

[57special]

I have watched enough hockey to not be upset when a game like that happens. We probably win that game 9/10 times. Canada is by no means out of it.

Exactly. Some adversity is a good for a team.

 

[Zippgunn]

On team selections alone I would say a good chunk of us on these boards would be able to do a far better job. You are telling me that you wouldn't be able to select a better team than this one for 2025? Our entire CHL, the NCAA players, etc. This sort of game should NEVER happen. Ever. They have outscored Latvia 41-4 in the 4 games prior to this. You NEVER lose to a team like this. You just can't, it isn't good for team bonding or morale. It is demoralizing. This is a country that is only playing in this tournament because they were able to hold off Austria in the relegation round a couple of years ago. People act like this is an up and coming team and yet we beat them 10-0 12 months ago. You can't just shrug it off. You have to have more pride in your country and your hockey program. Someone's ass needs to be fired over this. Multiple people.


No we didn't. He wasn't a hot goalie. Show me the acrobatic saves he made. We did not play our best game and our scoring chances did not match the 56 shots we took. You don't lose to these sort of countries if you are claiming to be the best in the world. You lose to Finland. Maybe you lose to Switzerland, maybe. Latvia? No.

So in your opinion we took almost 60 super easy shots? Latvia played us flawlessly; they looked like a whole team of Teddy Bluegers out there and their goalie was terrific. Games like these are why I love this tournament, every game is up for grabs no matter how lopsided things look on paper. Your ridiculous overreaction is typical of a lot of Canadian hockey "fans", gotta find someone on our side to blame rather than find someone on their side to praise, very, erm, "patriotic" of you. Every team loses games that they should win. If this game were in the medal round I could see the outrage but in the grand scheme of things it means squat, at least to Canada.

 

[Zalos]

Grats to Latvia. Must be amazing for them. It's like if Canada won against France or England in the FIFA World Cup.

As for Canada, oh well. Luckily, it wasn't an elimination game, so it can all be a bad memory if we just get back to winning next game.

 

[Crosby2010]

So don't criticize the team or the coaches or Hockey Canada when they are on the wrong side of the biggest upset in World Junior history? They are about to be multi millionaires, they'd better get used to criticism and someone calling them out for not working hard.

So in your opinion we took almost 60 super easy shots? Latvia played us flawlessly; they looked like a whole team of Teddy Bluegers out there and their goalie was terrific. Games like these are why I love this tournament, every game is up for grabs no matter how lopsided things look on paper. Your ridiculous overreaction is typical of a lot of Canadian hockey "fans", gotta find someone on our side to blame rather than find someone on their side to praise, very, erm, "patriotic" of you. Every team loses games that they should win. If this game were in the medal round I could see the outrage but in the grand scheme of things it means squat, at least to Canada.

Yes, this team is so good that two of their players have been drafted by NHL teams. Sorry, but you have to call it how it is. This was a dreadful performance and we didn't test the goalie nearly like we should have. He didn't have to stand on his head, he wasn't getting the best quality shots.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Love seeing those kids fired up like that. They earned it, they were the better team last night.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I am loving all the hand wringing going on amongst Canadian fans here; we got beat by a super hot goalie, full stop. Happens. Next...

Seems like its only 2-3 very patriotic people out of touch with reality

 

[centipede2233]

I doubt Canada wins, coaching is not good.

 

[D Wakaluk]

Is the shootout somewhere to be seen? The highlights didn't show much

 

[ArGarBarGar]

I personally believe most of the anger online is coming from those who placed bets, which MANY did.

Tragic I must say.

I have to imagine sports betting has made fan outbursts ten times worse.

 

[Hanji]

And that's the problem right there, you should not be happy that a country that is normally relegated just beat you on your home turf. It shouldn't bring you joy. We are soft as a country, and it shows in our hockey program and our fans.

What the hell?

Canadians aren't soft. It's just that international hockey isn't as important as it once was. With modern communication there are more avenues to engage, jockey with and compete against other countries.
People don't always need to live vicariously through hockey players as an expression of patriotism anymore; especially via a bunch of pimply teenagers. Hey its great if you win - celebrate, but not the end of the world if you lose.

I swear, these international games bring out the boomers like the bat-signal is in the sky or smth.