RESULTS| CALENDAR|RANKING|STATISTICS
SUMMARY
OTTAWA – Sometimes we talk about victories that were not deserved. It is rarer to describe a defeat as reassuring.
We want to say that the one suffered by Canada at the hands of the United States qualifies for this category.
ÉCJ lost the game that could give it access to first place in Group A. Slowed down by persistent indiscipline, it allowed three shorthanded goals and got the fate it deserved in a 4-1 loss.
However, she fought with passion and determination, demonstrating a hard work that had not characterized her in her previous matches against Latvia and Germany. And it is true this time that she came up against a goalkeeper in dangerous shape.
She is certainly not at the end of her troubles. But at least she has a pulse. We console ourselves with what we can.
The defeat in regulation time confined it to third place in its group. Like last year in Gothenburg, they will face the Czech Republic in the quarter-final on January 2.
The United States will face Switzerland.
Momentum at the cemetery
In a rough first period during which they hit the post twice, the United States took the lead on a goal from Lane Hutson.
Looking for a spark, Cameron offered a promotion to Carson Rehkopf, until then confined to the role of thirteenth striker, after returning from the first intermission. The Brampton Steelheads sniper found himself on the first line replacing Cole Beaudoin.
The decision initially had the desired effect. Rehkopf himself sounded the alarm twice near the American goalkeeper and Canada was on track to play its best period of the tournament when he suddenly turned the gun on himself.
Rehkopf received the first two of three successive minor penalties awarded to Canada. The defensive specialists, supported by Carter George in full control of the situation, absorbed the damage with tremendous efficiency. But the red and white assault tank which was pushing the Americans to their limits inevitably found itself in neutral.
Taking advantage of a brain cramp from American captain Ryan Leonard, the Canadians tied the game early in the third period. Bradly Nadeau came out of the shadows by placing a perfect one-timer behind Augustine. He and his setters (Tanner Molendyk and Brayden Yager) each collected their first point of the tournament down the stretch.
But the hosts immediately fell back into their bad habits. Thirty-eight seconds after Nadeau’s goal, the American power play rolled out again and struck before the end of its term, courtesy of Danny Nelson.
Ten minutes later, while Easton Cowan reflected in the penalty box, Cole Eiserman buried the local favorites along with the noise of their supporters.
Leonard ended the broadcasts taking advantage of an empty net.
More details to come.