5 unforgivable decisions by Dave Cameron

5 unforgivable decisions by Dave Cameron
5 unforgivable decisions by Dave Cameron

Globalization requires, parity is more and more present at the World Junior Hockey Championship. It is behind this reality that head coach Dave Cameron took refuge on Thursday evening to justify the elimination of Canada in the first round.

“This tournament was exactly what I expected. There are three or four teams that can win it and you have to win the games without a future,” he observed by way of autopsy.

Nevertheless, on paper, Canada was expected to go much further than in the first elimination round, despite questionable selections from the staff.

Part of the blame rests on the shoulders of Cameron, who too often seemed overwhelmed by events and made a series of questionable decisions.

Here are five decisions from the head coach that sank this edition of Junior Team Canada.

Not enough training

It was so strange that a professional coach texted journalist Scott Wheeler to point it out: Why is Canada practicing very little at this tournament? The team canceled practices on December 27 and December 1is January, in addition to two morning sessions on match days.

Asked about this after his team’s defeat on Thursday evening, Cameron pleaded that his players were tired and that there is no system for a tired team.

The Czech Republic had skated in the morning, for its part, and did not seem too exhausted…

Pinelli attached to McKenna and the top 9

Don’t look too far to understand why Cameron flips over Luca Pinelli. It’s his player. No, literally his player. Cameron runs it with the Ottawa 67s in the OHL.

And Pinelli, despite timid performances and an equally timid harvest of a goal and an assist, was employed systematically within the first three lines, and almost always with prodigy Gavin McKenna during the tournament. However, better offensive elements were at Cameron’s disposal.

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Carson Rehkopf cut

Not only is Carson Rehkopf one of the most formidable snipers in the Canadian major junior, he was also Porter Martone’s linemate with the Brampton Steelheads.

However, Cameron has never used these two attackers with natural chemistry within the same trio. In fact, Rehkopf was left out for the one-night stand against Czechia.

Gavin McKenna not used enough

McKenna didn’t pile up the points. He didn’t play like hockey’s next Connor McDavid. But any observer saw his talent stand out during his sporadic appearances on the ice despite his lukewarm production.

In search of a goal, Cameron promoted him to the first trio at the end of the match against the Czech Republic. It was the right decision, but it was made far too late. Plus, Cameron had the nerve to send him to serve Cole Beaudoin’s five-minute major penalty earlier in the match.

Canada’s pilot should have quickly identified McKenna as the leader of his attack and used him liberally.

No accountability

We won’t spill too much sugar on Easton Cowan’s back. The poor teenager has been brutally bullied on social media since the start of the tournament. Not very edifying from keyboard warriors.

But we cannot ignore the fact that following his costly, unforgivable and downright unnecessary penalty against the United States late in the game last Tuesday, Cowan was rewarded with generous minutes on the power play and within of the first trio.

A strange message to send, knowing that Canada was weighed down by individualistic play.

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