Latvia caused quite a surprise at the World Junior Hockey Championship by defeating Canada 3-2 in a shootout on Friday in Ottawa.
Twice rather than once, the Latvians created a tie in this meeting on the power play. The Canadians were heading for a narrow 1-0 victory in the final minutes of the third period, but there were many upsets.
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With 2:29 left, captain Peteris Bulans even forced overtime. Canada had the better chances in overtime, and even had to defend four-on-three following a penalty for having too many players on the ice.
The shootout needed eight rounds to determine a winner. Goalkeepers Linards Feldbergs and Jack Ivankovic stopped the first 15 attempts before Eriks Mateiko finally beat the Canadian goalkeeper.
The Canadians may have knocked on the door more than 50 times, but Feldbergs did not open it often. The Sherbrooke Phoenix goalkeeper was solid, but the shots in his direction were rarely dangerous.
The crowd at the Canadian Tire Center held its breath several times, notably when Mateiko tied the game with 6:42 left in the third period. This surprising scene for a match that promised to be easy made more than one doubt. The worst was yet to come.
Calum Ritchie restored order with a goal 64 seconds later. On the power play, the Colorado Avalanche prospect threw a one-timer to beat Feldbergs. Bulans, however, brought everyone back to square one.
Defender Matthew Schaefer had to leave the match following a heavy fall against the Latvian net. The Ontarian was able to return to the bench under his own power.
Ivankovic became Canada’s first 17-year-old goaltender to get a start at the World Juniors since Jimmy Waite in 1987.
