From markhmasters: Hunter mum on starter ahead of Canada’s tournament opener against USA. MORE:
Team Canada held a media availability at Ostravar Arena on Thursday morning. Team USA held a full skate.The coach is playing coy ahead of his first game behind the bench at the World Juniors, but here's what we know. Only the three goalies skated during Canada's allotted time this morning with Guelph's Nico Daws the first one to leave the ice. Portland's Joel Hofer and Moncton's Olivier Rodrigue, already designated as third goalie, stayed out for extra work.
Neither Daws or Hofer has played for Canada at an international event, which may be an advantage, in a way, because the Americans don't have quite as much film to pore over. Daws almost seemed more concerned about his father's over-the-top support than Team USA. He doesn't plan to do too much video work despite having never faced most of the NCAA-dominated roster. Of course, he is aware of Cole Caufield, who scored a record 72 goals last season with the U.S. National Development Program.
Knight, a Panthers prospect, never seems to get rattled and has World Juniors experience thanks to a stint as the third goalie last year. "Probably the only time we're going to skate in the next couple days aside from the games," the coach explained."I think it's good, get them out there, get the blood going, you know, I like game-day skates and some of those guys do too."Team Canada has two players with professional experience this season in centres Barrett Hayton and Joe Veleno.
Veleno's line, with wingers Alexis Lafreniere and Nolan Foote, produced a couple goals in Monday's final dress rehearsal against Finland. "Their intensity in the one-on-one battles," he said."They battled hard in the corners. Everybody can see the nice plays out there but I like, as coach, in the corners they won battles and that’s what created a lot of opportunities for them.
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