DORIAN GEIGER
Sports Editor

Facing a Slovakian team with a 1-1 record on Dec. 29 at the IIHF World Under 20 Junior Championship, Team Canada saw their steepest challenge yet. Canada prevailed with physical intensity and offensive depth, trumping their opponents 8-2 in a match that saw forward Taylor Hall find the back of the net three times for a hat-trick.

As opposed to the offensive melees that have characterized both of Canada’s victories over Latvia and Switzerland that saw the Canucks outscore their opponents 22-0, this game had much more of a physical presence. Canada’s defensive unit finally got to see some sort of challenge against the feisty Slovaks.

Canada’s starting goaltender Jake Allen was given the night off by head coach Willie Desjardins and backup Martin Jones assumed netminding duties, only allowing two goals on 27 shots — two more than Allen has seen in the past two games.

The first period saw the most chances any team thus far has had at converting a goal against the Canadians; a hop off the glass that went off Canadian tender Jones’ back with three minutes near the end first period almost sealed a goal for Slovakia.

Slovakian goaltender Marek Ciliak was not so lucky. After allowing three goals on four Canadian shots, Ciliak was pulled in favour of Tomas Halasz. Canada drew first blood on a power play goal from Taylor Hall with 12:42 remaining in the first period, the first of three for the Windsor Spitfire star. Canada banked two more goals before the end of the first period to make the score 3-0.

Canada’s Luke Adam soon followed up on the already gaping lead and scored one of the nicer goals of the game with a well executed wrap-around conversion to make it 4-0 with 14:52 remaining in the second period. Alex Pietangelo, Luke Adam, Ryan Ellis, Braydon Schenn and Stefan Della-Rovere would all manage to score for Canada before the night drew to a close.

Stepping in from a backup netminding role, Calgary Hitmen product Jones deserves kudos for his performance and was eager to get his opportunity to prove himself.

“We knew the games were going to get tougher and it was nice for me to get in a game and get some shots and play well,” remarked Jones.

“Yeah, it was definitely nice to get some work tonight.”

Never knowing when he’s going to have to make an appearance is something Jones has become accustomed to in the backup spot and he thinks having a focused mentality will help him prepare to step into any role Canada may demand of him in games down the road.

“I’m going to prepare myself the same way I would for any game,” said Jones confidently.

“So many things can happen and I could get the call in the third period of the gold medal game, you know? You don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Even with a tournament 3-0 record, Canada will get a day break to mentally focus on the fiercest confrontation they have yet to encounter: the United States. When the two North American foes go head-to-head in a New Years Eve showdown, the world will get to see what Canada is truly made of.

See below for post-game interviews with player of the game Taylor Hall and goaltender Martin Jones, as well as Slovakia’s assistant captain Tomas Tatar.

Taylor Hall interview

Martin Jones interview

Slovakia’s Tomas Tartar

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image courtesy of Steve Hiscock / videos by Dorian Geiger