CGD: Canada faces off against Latvia in third round robin game

Here’s what you need to know ahead of Canada’s matchup against Latvia. 

Pierre-Luc Dubois – Dylan Strome – Michael McLeod

Mathieu Joseph – Matthew Barzal – Taylor Raddysh 

Tyson Jost – Nicolas Roy – Julien Gauthier 

Dillon Dube – Anthony Cirelli – Blake Speers 

                                                     Mitchell Stephens

Thomas Chabot – Philippe Myers 

Jake Bean – Noah Juulsen 

Dante Fabbro – Kale Clague 

Jeremy Lauzon 

Carter Hart

Connor Ingram 

Line juggling: There will be a new addition to Canada’s top line. With Mitchell Stephens out with an injury, Michael McLeod, who started the tournament as Canada’s 13th forward, will leapfrog on to Canada’s first line alongside Pierre-Luc Dubois and Dylan Strome. McLeod was someone that I had pegged as a dark horse for the tournament in my preview of Canada and Slovakia’s game and I think his craftiness and speed could compliment Dubois and Strome’s games quite well.

High scoring: I think it’s safe to say that Canada will be scoring in bunches today. Latvia has allowed 15 goals through their first two games and Canada’s put up five goals in both of their games thus far. Canada’s high flying offence will surely be too much to handle for Latvia and it could get out of hand. 

Hart gets the start: Carter Hart will be making a return to Canada’s crease. After Connor Ingram recorded a 5-0 shutout against Slovakia on Tuesday, Canada will hand the reigns back to Hart, who was between the pipes for Canada’s 5-3 win over Russia. 

What does Coach have to say? ” We have two goalies, two solid goalies.” head coach Dominque Ducharme said Wednesday. ” We like them both and we’re confident with those guys in net.” 

“Denmark beat Finland, anyone can beat anyone on any given day.” continued coach Ducharme.

Rihards Puide – Roberts Baranovskis – Valters Apfelbaums 

Eduards Tralmaks – Renars Krastenbergs – Erlends Klavins 

Martins Dzierkals – Rudolfs Baclers – Filips Buscis 

Roberts Blugers – Ricards Bernhards – Deniss Smirnovs

Maksims Ponomarenko- Kristaps Zile 

Eduards Hugo Jansons- Gvido Jansons 

Kristians Rubins- Karlis Cukste 

Tomas Zeile- Rimants Zeilis 

Mareks Egils Mitens 

Gustavs Davis Grigals 

Stay out of the sin bin, Latvia: Here’s a tip Team Latvia, stay out of the penalty box. Latvia has averaged 19 minutes of penalties per game in the tournament. Being a man short against Canada is not a situation you want to be in and Latvia needs to stay disciplined if they don’t want to get embarrassed to bad. 

December 26, 2009: Canada opened up their World Junior tournament with a 16-0 routing of Latvia. Gabriel Bourque tied a Team Canada record when he recorded seven points in one game. 

February 19th, 2014: In the 2014 Olympics, Canada and Latvia had a game to remember. Canada won the game by a slim margin of 2-1 and Latvia’s persistence was compelling to watch.  Latvia’s performance was led by goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis, who put up one of the best performances in Olympic ice-hockey history. Gudlevskis saved 57 of 59 shots faced and almost led Latvia to what would have been an unbelievable upset.