New team, fast pace, calm attitude three keys for Canadian juniors vs. Sweden
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Drake Batherson had a hat trick as Canada downed the Czech Republic 7-2 in the semifinal of the world junior hockey championship on Thursday night. The Canadians will face Sweden on Friday night in the gold-medal game.
Here are three things to know:
SAME TEAM, DIFFERENT STORY — Seven players and head coach Dominique Ducharme are returning from last year’s team that lost in the shootout to the United States in the gold-medal game. Although it was a heartbreaking loss, they insist that this is a new team and a new year.
“It’s going to be a different game. It’s different tournament. It’s a different group,” said Ducharme, who saw his team rally from an early deficit to the Czechs. “I think our guys are learning a lot, we’ve been through a lot in the first round. Just tonight, the way we played the game. Trailing 1-0, early in the game, guys didn’t panic and then we established our game. All those little things we need to take and play our best game tomorrow.