What is the composition of Canada’s men’s national soccer team for the final round of World Cup qualifying. How does the roster reflect Canada’s recent successes and future aspirations. Who are the key players to watch in Canada’s quest for World Cup qualification.
Canada’s World Cup Qualifying Journey: A Historic Opportunity
For the first time in nearly 25 years, Canada finds itself in the final round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region. This momentous occasion marks a significant milestone in the nation’s soccer history and presents a golden opportunity to secure a spot in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The Canadian men’s national team, under the guidance of head coach John Herdman, is poised to build on their recent successes as they enter this crucial phase of qualification. With a roster brimming with talent and experience, Canada aims to make a strong statement in the CONCACAF “Octagonal” and inch closer to their World Cup dreams.
The Octagonal: Canada’s Path to World Cup Glory
The final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, known as the “Octagonal,” pits Canada against seven formidable opponents:
- United States
- Mexico
- Jamaica
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Panama
Over the course of 14 matches, Canada will battle for one of the three automatic berths available for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Should they finish fourth, they’ll advance to an intercontinental playoff for a final chance at qualification.
The upcoming fixtures present both challenges and opportunities for the Canadian squad:
- Home match against Honduras (September 2)
- Away match against archrival USA (September 5)
- Home match against El Salvador (September 8)
These initial games will set the tone for Canada’s qualifying campaign and provide valuable insights into the team’s potential on the international stage.
A Blend of Youth and Experience: Canada’s 23-Player Roster
Head coach John Herdman has carefully curated a 23-player roster that strikes a balance between youthful exuberance and seasoned experience. This dynamic mix of talent reflects Canada’s rising status in international soccer and their ambitions for the future.
Key Players to Watch
- Atiba Hutchinson (38 years old): The veteran midfielder brings a wealth of experience, participating in his fifth World Cup qualifying campaign. Hutchinson stands on the brink of history, just five caps shy of setting a new all-time appearances record for a Canadian male player.
- Alphonso Davies (20 years old): The Bayern Munich star represents the new generation of Canadian soccer. Despite his young age, Davies has already established himself as a world-class talent and will be crucial to Canada’s attacking prowess.
- Jonathan David (21 years old): The LOSC Lille forward has been making waves in European football. His goal-scoring ability and creative flair will be vital for Canada’s offensive efforts.
- Tajon Buchanan (22 years old): Fresh off a stellar performance at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he won the top young player award, Buchanan has secured a move to Belgian Champions League side Club Brugge. His recent form makes him one of the most exciting prospects in the Canadian squad.
The roster’s composition highlights Canada’s ability to nurture young talent while leveraging the experience of seasoned professionals. This blend of youth and experience could prove to be a winning formula in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Canada’s Recent Form: Building Momentum for World Cup Qualification
The Canadian men’s national team enters the final round of World Cup qualifying on the back of an impressive run of form. Their recent performances have not only boosted confidence within the squad but have also raised expectations among fans and pundits alike.
Notable Achievements
- Won 9 out of 11 matches in 2021
- Set a team record with eight consecutive victories
- Scored an impressive 42 goals during the current calendar year
- Advanced to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time since 2007
Despite narrow losses to powerhouses USA and Mexico in the Gold Cup, Canada’s overall performance in the tournament showcased their growing competitiveness on the international stage. The team’s ability to go toe-to-toe with regional giants bodes well for their World Cup qualifying prospects.
Tactical Flexibility: Herdman’s Approach to World Cup Qualification
John Herdman’s selection for the World Cup qualifying roster demonstrates his commitment to tactical flexibility. The diverse skill sets of the chosen players allow for various formations and strategies, depending on the opponent and match circumstances.
Potential Tactical Setups
- 4-3-3 Formation: Utilizing the pace and creativity of Davies and David in wide attacking roles, with a strong midfield trio to control possession and dictate the tempo of the game.
- 3-5-2 System: Exploiting the defensive solidity of players like Vitoria and Johnston while allowing attacking wing-backs to provide width and support in offensive phases.
- 4-2-3-1 Setup: Emphasizing the playmaking abilities of midfielders like Hutchinson and Osorio, with a lone striker supported by three attacking midfielders.
Herdman’s ability to adapt his tactics based on the strengths of his squad and the challenges posed by different opponents will be crucial in navigating the complex landscape of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
The Goalkeeping Conundrum: Canada’s Last Line of Defense
One of the intriguing aspects of Canada’s World Cup qualifying roster is the depth and quality in the goalkeeping department. The selection of Milan Borjan, Maxime Crepeau, and James Pantemis presents Herdman with a pleasant dilemma in choosing his first-choice goalkeeper.
Analyzing the Goalkeeping Options
- Milan Borjan (FK Crvena Zvezda): The experienced shot-stopper brings European Champions League experience and has been a reliable presence for the national team in recent years.
- Maxime Crepeau (Vancouver Whitecaps): A rising star in Major League Soccer, Crepeau has shown excellent form for both club and country, making a strong case for increased involvement in the national setup.
- James Pantemis (CF Montreal): The youngest of the trio, Pantemis represents the future of Canadian goalkeeping and provides quality depth to the squad.
The competition for the starting goalkeeper position could elevate the performance levels of all three players, ultimately benefiting the team as they face the challenges of World Cup qualification.
Beyond the Pitch: The Impact of World Cup Qualification on Canadian Soccer
As Canada embarks on this crucial World Cup qualifying campaign, the potential impact extends far beyond the immediate goal of reaching Qatar 2022. A successful qualification bid could have far-reaching effects on the growth and development of soccer in Canada.
Potential Benefits of World Cup Qualification
- Increased Popularity: Qualification for the World Cup could spark a surge in interest in soccer across Canada, potentially leading to higher participation rates at grassroots levels.
- Financial Boost: The influx of funds from World Cup participation could be reinvested in soccer infrastructure, youth development programs, and coaching education.
- Global Recognition: Success on the world stage would elevate Canada’s standing in international soccer, potentially attracting more attention from top clubs and leagues worldwide.
- Legacy Building: With Canada co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, qualification for 2022 could serve as a springboard for long-term success and establish a winning culture within the national team setup.
The ripple effects of World Cup qualification could contribute to a soccer renaissance in Canada, fostering a new generation of talent and solidifying the sport’s place in the nation’s sporting landscape.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities in CONCACAF Qualifying
As Canada prepares to navigate the treacherous waters of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, they face a series of challenges and opportunities that will test their mettle and determination.
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Key Factors for Success
- Home Advantage: Maximizing points from home fixtures will be crucial. The matches against Honduras and El Salvador in September present an opportunity to start the campaign on a strong footing.
- Away Performances: Securing points on the road, particularly in challenging environments like Mexico’s Estadio Azteca, could make or break Canada’s qualification hopes.
- Squad Depth: With 14 matches to be played over a condensed period, Herdman must effectively manage player workload and utilize the full depth of his squad.
- Mental Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks and maintain focus throughout the grueling qualification process will be vital.
- Tactical Adaptability: Flexibility in approach and the capacity to adjust strategies mid-game could prove decisive in tight contests.
While the road to Qatar 2022 is fraught with challenges, it also presents Canada with an unprecedented opportunity to showcase their growth as a soccer nation and stake their claim among CONCACAF’s elite.
As the final round of World Cup qualifying kicks off, all eyes will be on Canada’s talented squad. With a blend of youth and experience, tactical flexibility, and a recent history of success, the Canadian men’s national team stands poised to make history and bring their World Cup dreams to fruition.
Canada men’s national soccer team unveils full-strength roster for final round of World Cup qualifying
After one of the most successful stretches in Canada men’s national team history this past summer, head coach John Herdman will hope his team can continue that roll when it opens the final round of 2022 World Cup qualifying in September. Herdman called up a 23-player roster for the team’s first three matches in the CONCACAF “Octagonal”: at home to Honduras (Sept. 2) and El Salvador (Sept. 8) and away to archrival USA (Sept. 5).
It’s the first time in nearly 25 years that Canada is involved in the final round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region. The Canadians will play a total of 14 matches against seven other opponents: USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama. A total of three automatic berths are on the line, with the fourth-place team advancing to an intercontinental playoff for the final ticket to the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
“These men know they have a great opportunity to play in front of our fans for the first time in nearly two years, but more importantly the chance to get our campaign off to a great start in the next round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers,” Herdman said in a team statement.
“There’s been a lot of competition for places in this selection, so assembling this squad posed some nice problems for a coach.”
MORE: CONCACAF World Cup qualifying schedule & standings
The roster features the return of 38-year-old veteran Atiba Hutchinson, who will be participating in his fifth World Cup qualifying campaign. That’s compared to 20-year-old Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) and 21-year-old Jonathan David (LOSC Lille), who are taking part in their first cycle. Davies and David are also the youngest players on the roster, while Hutchinson is five caps shy of setting a new all-time appearances record for a Canadian male player.
But the most talked about Canadian of late has been 22-year-old Tajon Buchanan, who recently earned a move to Belgian Champions League side Club Brugge at the end of the 2021 season in Major League Soccer. That transfer was earned on the back of standout performances for Canada during the recently concluded CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he won the top young player award.
Les Rouges advanced to the semifinals of the Gold Cup for the first time since 2007, losing a heartbreaker to Mexico deep into stoppage time. The Canadians have won nine of their 11 matches so far in 2021, including a team-record eight in a row before losses to the USA and Mexico in the Gold Cup. They’ve also scored 42 goals during the current calendar year.
Canada’s two home matches on Sept. 2 (8 p.m. ET) and Sept. 8 (7:30 p.m. ET) will be broadcast live in Canada on OneSoccer.ca.
Canada roster: September World Cup qualifiers
| Position | Player | Club |
| GK | Milan Borjan | FK Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) |
| GK | Maxime Crepeau | Vancouver Whitecaps |
| GK | James Pantemis | CF Montreal |
| DF | Samuel Adekugbe | Hatayspor FC (Turkey) |
| DF | Alphonso Davies | Bayern Munich (Germany) |
| DF | Doneil Henry | Suwon Bluewings (South Korea) |
| DF | Alistair Johnston | Nashville SC |
| DF | Scott Kennedy | SSV Jahn Regensburg (Germany) |
| DF | Richie Laryea | Toronto FC |
| DF | Kamal Miller | CF Montreal |
| DF | Steven Vitoria | Moreirense FC (Portugal) |
| MF | Stephen Eustaquio | FC Paços de Ferreira (Portugal) |
| MF | Liam Fraser | Columbus Crew SC |
| MF | Atiba Hutchinson | Beşiktaş JK (Turkey) |
| MF | Mark-Anthony Kaye | Colorado Rapids |
| MF | Jonathan Osorio | Toronto FC |
| MF | Samuel Piette | CF Montreal |
| MF | David Wotherspoon | St. Johnstone (Scotland) |
| MF | Tajon Buchanan | New England Revolution |
| FW | Lucas Cavallini | Vancouver Whitecaps |
| FW | Jonathan David | LOSC Lille (France) |
| FW | Junior Hoilett | Reading FC (England) |
| FW | Cyle Larin | Beşiktaş JK (Turkey) |
World Cup of Hockey roster: Team Canada – Cross Checks Blog
FINAL TEAM CANADA 2016 WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY ROSTER
TORONTO (May 27, 2016) — Hockey Canada announced today its final 23-man roster for the World Cup of Hockey 2016, the best-on-best international hockey championship from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1, 2016, in Toronto. Seven players were added today, highlighted in bold. They join the 16 selected to the team on March 2.
INDEX: NHL World Cup Poster CANADA Sam Ho
Team Canada
G Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
G Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
G Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
D Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
D Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
D Marc-Edouard Vlasic, San Jose Sharks
D Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
D Alex Pietrangelo, St.
Louis Blues
D Jake Muzzin, Los Angeles Kings
D Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
F Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
F Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
F Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
F Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
F Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
F Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
F John Tavares, New York Islanders
F Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
F Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
F Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
F Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
F Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
Eight teams — Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Finland, Team Russia, Team Sweden, Team USA, Team Europe and Team North America — will compete in the two-week tournament, featuring more than 150 of the best players in the NHL. All tournament games will be played at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, home of the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs.
Each of the eight teams will have a tournament roster of 23 players: 20 skaters and three goaltenders.
The World Cup of Hockey 2016 is a joint effort of the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association, in cooperation with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The eight teams are split into two Groups, Group A and Group B, for the Preliminary Round (Sept. 17-22), when each team will play its three Group opponents in a round-robin format. Placed in Group A are Team Canada, Team Czech Republic and Team USA, plus Team Europe, a pan-European roster of players from birth countries outside of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden. The four teams in Group B are Team Finland, Team Russia, Team Sweden and Team North America, a selection of the top players from Canada and the United States who are 23 or under as of Oct. 1, 2016.
The top two finishers in each of Group A and Group B will advance to the Semifinals (Sept. 24-25), where each qualifier will face an elimination game against a team from the other Group. The two Semifinal winners will meet in the Final, a best-of-three series on Sept.
27, Sept. 29 and, if necessary, Oct. 1.
Live coverage of all tournament games will be provided by Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada and ESPN in the United States. A complete broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date.
Canada names best roster ever for upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
TORONTO, Canada—The Canadian men’s national team have named a strong roster that will compete in upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, which begin later this month at BMO Field.
The Canadian squad for the upcoming three matches — two at home in Toronto and one away in Nashville — feature an exciting group of players, headlined by Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.
Full Canada Roster:
“These men know they have a great opportunity to play in front of our fans for the first time in nearly two years, but more importantly the chance to get our campaign off to a great start in the next round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach in a press release.
“There’s been a lot of competition for places in this selection, so assembling this squad posed some nice problems for a coach.”
Along with the aforementioned David and Davies, Atiba Hutchinson checks back into the Canada side after missing out on the past couple of international windows. The veteran is taking part in his fifth cycle of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers while youngsters Davies and David are both taking part in their first cycle of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Davies and David are in fact the two youngest players in the Canada squad at 20 and 21.
Davies and David are two of five Canadians aged 23 or younger in the September squad, alongside Tajon Buchanan of New England Revolution Club Brugge, Alistair Johnston of Nashville SC, and Liam Fraser of Toronto FC Columbus SC.
Other key experienced players presently with European clubs are Junior Hoilett of Reading FC in England, Steven Vitória of Moreirense FC in Portugal, and David Wotherspoon of St.
Johnstone FC in Scotland. Younger stars in Europe and Asia include Samuel Adekugbe of Hatayspor FC in Turkey, Stephen Eustáquio of FC Paços de Ferreira in Portugal, Doneil Henry of Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Korea Republic, and Scott Kennedy of SSV Jahn Regensburg in Germany.
Joining Buchanan, Fraser, Johnston, Osorio and Piette from Major League Soccer clubs are Lucas Cavallini and Maxime Crépeau from Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Mark-Anthony Kaye from Colorado Rapids, Richie Laryea from Toronto FC, and Kamal Miller and James Pantemis from CF Montréal.
Milan Borjan, meanwhile, will likely return to his spot as the No. 1 in net after missing out on the past couple of Canada camps.
There’s not much debate to this: this is the best Canadian men’s national team squad ever, so make sure you get out to BMO Field (if you’re comfortable) to support your Reds.
Tickets are still available (see below):
Canada v Honduras | 2 September – 20.00 local kick off | Tickets
Canada v El Salvador | 8 September – 19.
30 local kick off | Tickets
Canada’s two home matches on 2 and 8 September will also be broadcast live in Canada on OneSoccer.
Coach John Herdman faces Canada roster questions ahead of World Cup qualifying
Canada faces three stiff challenges in World Cup qualifying this month with question-marks over several key players.
Coach John Herdman has called up captain Atiba Hutchinson, veteran goalkeeper Milan Borjan and striker Cyle Larin but admits he’s not sure of their availability for matches in Mexico and Jamaica and at home to Panama due to injury and health issues.
“Their recovery, their return-to-play plan is progressing and there is a chance that the three of them may see some time during this 10-day window,” he told a virtual availability Friday.
“We’ve still got a little bit more time, right up until that last game against Panama,” he added. “So they’re on our roster. They’re certainly not healthy at the moment … It’s a complex window, this one./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58289155/612590092.jpg.0.jpg)
“
Canada (1-0-2) stands second in the Octagonal round-robin standings on goal difference with five points, after defeating El Salvador and tying Honduras and the U.S.
The 51st-ranked Canadian men play at No. 9 Mexico (2-0-1) on Oct. 7 and at No. 59 Jamaica (0-2-1) on Oct. 10 before hosting No. 68 Panama (1-0-2) at Toronto’s BMO Field on Oct. 13.
Herdman said Borjan is recovering from COVID. Hutchinson and Larin have been nursing knocks. Vancouver Whitecaps forward Lucas Cavallini is also in the squad, despite a recent knee injury.
With 88 caps, the 38-year-old Hutchinson is one away from tying Julian de Guzman’s Canadian men’s record.
Defender Scott Kennedy is unavailable through injury, however.
The Canadian men are also dealing with five yellow cards, knowing players picking up a second yellow face a one-game suspension.
‘Big opportunities’ on horizon for players
Adding to the complications are travel restrictions affecting Junior Hoilett for the Mexico end of the trip, Herdman said without elaborating.
Despite injury and other concerns, Herdman says the Canadian squad has plenty to offer.
“I’m really looking forward to this (international) window because I think … there’s some big opportunities for players to take a claim to future involvement in this journey,” he said. “So anyone coming in, it’s an absolute opportunity to get yourself in the thinking for that World Cup squad in the future.”
Herdman can call upon young players like 21-year-old Jacob Shaffelburg (Toronto FC) and 22-year-old Tajon Buchanan (New England), and Liam Millar (FC Basel) who have been in a rich vein of form recently.
And the 27-man Canadian roster is full of weapons and creativity with Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Jonathan David (Lille) and Stephen Eustaquio (FC Pacos de Ferreira).
Canada head coach John Herdman salutes the crowd as he leaves the pitch following a 1-1 draw against the United States in a World Cup soccer qualifier Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Humphrey/AP Photo)
Shaffelburg, a pacey winger who likes to take on defenders, scored one goal and set up the other two in Toronto’s 3-2 comeback win over FC Cincinnati on Wednesday. He has two goals and four assists in his last four games for Toronto.
Shaffelburg, who has one senior cap to his credit, joins 23-year-old Derek Cornelius (13 caps) and Charles-Andreas Brym (three caps) as first-time call-ups during this World Cup qualifying cycle.
Cornelius is currently with Greece’s Panetolikos, on loan from the Whitecaps. Brym plays for FC Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Toronto FC’s Jacob Shaffelburg, right, joins the 27-man Canadian squad. (Leopoldo Smith/Getty Images/File)
Herdman also pointed to the form of CF Montreal defender Zachary Brault-Guillard.
“I’m excited. It’s a window where we’re going to suffer a little bit — and that’s normal, it was going to happen — but it’s a real opportunity for us to show the quality of our depth and t strengthen this group, add more people to the depth of this Canadian squad.
“
Should Borjan not be ready, Herdman can go with Vancouver ‘keeper Maxime Crepeau, who has been in fine form.
Winless record in Mexico
It’s a challenging schedule for Canada.
The Canadian men have never won in Mexico and their history at Azteca Stadium includes losses of 8-0 (1993), 4-0 (1997 and 1993), 2-0 (2016 and 2000), 2-1 (1972) and 1-0 (1971), along with a 1-1 draw (1980).
Herdman says Canada will see a different, stronger Jamaica than shown in its first few games in this round, as more players rejoin the team including in-form West Ham striker Michail Antonio.
“They were the hardest hit of any team by some of the pandemic realities,” he said.
Panama, meanwhile, has been one of the surprises of the round, winning 3-0 in Jamaica and tying visiting Costa Rica and Mexico.
Each of the eight teams still in World Cup contention in CONCACAF plays 14 matches in the final round of qualifying, with the top three representing North and Central America and the Caribbean at Qatar 2022, The fourth-place team will take part in an intercontinental playoff to see who joins them.
It’s the first time the Canadian men have reached the final round of CONCACAF qualifying since the leadup to France ’98.
Canada won its first-round group, defeating Aruba, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Suriname, before dispatching Haiti in a two-legged second round.
Canada Soccer says its two November home matches — Nov. 12 against No. 44 Costa Rica (0-1-2) and Mexico on Nov. 16 — will be played at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.
UK eases restrictions on Premier League players
Premier League players who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to travel to countries on the UK’s red list during the international break and will be allowed to train or play when they quarantine on return, the government said on Friday.
Many clubs refused to release players to ‘red list’ countries such as Brazil and Argentina last month and the Premier League is looking to avoid a similar situation which angered national federations.
The strict COVID-19 quarantine rules require those who return to England from a red list country to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days, but players will now be quarantined at “bespoke facilities” and will be allowed to train or play.
Team Canada roster predictions for 2022 Olympic hockey tournament
Getting a chance to represent Canada at a best-on-best tournament is one of the highest honours a hockey player can get.
It’s an honour that’s been increasingly rare for hockey players, however.
The NHL opted out of the 2018 Winter Olympics and chose to mess with international teams at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. As such, some of our country’s best players have never put on the Maple Leaf at a best-on-best tournament before. Connor McDavid has never done it. Neither has Nathan MacKinnon.
NHL players will finally get the chance to play on the global stage in February, the league confirmed today.
Expect a lot of changes from Canada’s 2016 World Cup team, as well as the roster that represented Canada at the 2014 Olympics.
Canada was absolutely dominant at the last two best-on-best tournaments, in large part because they loaded up on great two-way players; plus, they had Carey Price in his prime between the pipes.
They didn’t lose a single game at either tournament, outscoring their opponents 17-3 in 2014 and 24-8 in 2016.
Let’s see if we can replicate that kind of dominance with this projected roster.
Forwards
| Brayden Point | Connor McDavid | Nathan MacKinnon |
| Patrice Bergeron | Sidney Crosby | Brad Marchand |
| Jonathan Huberdeau | Mark Scheifele | Mark Stone |
| Mathew Barzal | Ryan O’Reilly | Mitch Marner |
| Sean Couturier | ||
| John Tavares |
The pool of Canadian forwards Canada has to choose from is the best in the world, with an embarrassment of riches on each line, and at each position.
Patrice Bergeron, Mark Stone, Ryan O’Reilly, Brad Marchand, and Mitch Marner all finished in the top 10 in Selke Trophy voting last season, giving Canada defensive responsibility throughout their lineup.
The top line of Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Brayden Point might be the fastest line ever assembled. The line of Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand — which was dominant in 2016 — remains intact for this tournament.
Snubbed:
- Steven Stamkos
- Jamie Benn
- Tyler Seguin
- Claude Giroux
- Bo Horvat
- Nick Suzuki
- Jonathan Marchessault
- Yanni Gourde
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- Brendan Gallagher
- Taylor Hall
- Logan Couture
Defence
| Shea Theodore | Alex Pietrangelo |
| Thomas Chabot | Dougie Hamilton |
| Jakob Chychrun | Cale Makar |
| Josh Morrissey | Drew Doughty |
There will be a changing of the guard on defence for Canada, as many of our country’s most famous blueliners are getting up in age.
Players like Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, and Brent Burns are no longer picks for Team Canada. We’ve chosen Drew Doughty and Alex Pietrangelo, who will each turn 32 by February, and they’re the greybeards on this squad.
Youth is being served with Morgan Rielly (27), Shea Theodore (26), Thomas Chabot (24), Jakob Chychrun (23), and Cale Makar (22) on the roster.
We’ve kept players on their natural side, and the right side is deeper for Canada. That will give opportunities you might not expect for some left-side blueliners.
Snubbed:
- Darnell Nurse
- Brent Burns
- Mark Giordano
- Kris Letang
- Aaron Ekblad
- Jared Spurgeon
- Adam Pelech
- Tyson Barrie
- Colton Parayko
- Duncan Keith
Goaltenders
| Carey Price |
| Marc-Andre Fleury |
| Darcy Kuemper |
There isn’t a changing of the guard in goal, as Carey Price is still Canada’s No.
1 goalie. Marc-Andre Fleury, as the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, could give Price a run for the starting job.
Snubbed:
- Cam Talbot
- Jordan Binnington
- Carter Hart
- Mackenzie Blackwood
Big names missing from USMNT World Cup qualifying roster
Forwards Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna were left off the 27-man U.S. roster for October’s three CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, but midfielder Weston McKennie made the cut after missing the last two games to suspension.
The U.S., unbeaten at 1-0-2 three games into the 14-game tournament, will play winless Jamaica on Oct. 7 in Austin, Texas., before traveling to Central America to face unbeaten Panama on Oct. 10. The U.S. will close the second round of qualifiers in Columbus, Ohio, against once-beaten Costa Rica on Oct. 13.
Pulisic and Reyna were both injured in this month’s qualifiers, Pulisic twisting an ankle in Honduras and Reyna tweaking a hamstring in El Salvador.
Coach Gregg Berhalter said it’s possible, if unlikely, they could join the team for the Costa Rica match.
“I wouldn’t rule them completely out,” Berhalter said. “I’d describe the situation as day to day.
“With players like that, you want to leave the door open as long as possible.”
In the meantime, former Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes and D.C. United’s Paul Arriola have taken their place on the roster, which was announced Wednesday. The team includes 10 players off MLS rosters and 17 from Europe. Eighteen of the players called up were on the team for the three September games while nine have never played in a World Cup qualifier.
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As for McKennie, he returns after being suspended for multiple violations of the team’s COVID-19 protocols earlier this month.
“Like any player, you talk through it and the player takes responsibility,” Berhalter said. “But there’s a certain amount of trust that Weston needs to rebuild with the group. And he’s willing to do that. That’s the important thing.”
The top three teams in the eight-team competition, which ends next spring, will qualify automatically for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The U.S. enters the second qualifying window tied with Canada and Panama for second place, two points behind Mexico.
With three matches in seven days, roster depth will be tested in the October window, one reason Berhalter called up 27 players, four more than the game-day limit for selection. Another reason is the three U.K.-based players on the roster — Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen and Fulham defenders Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream — will miss the middle game because Panama is one of 54 countries on Britain’s red list for travel restrictions due to COVID-19.
Taking part in that game would impact the players’ abilities to return to their club teams.
In addition to Zardes and Arriola, players returning to the team following the first round of qualifying include midfielder Gianlunca Busio of Italy’s Venezia, forward Matthew Hoppe of Spain’s Mallorca and defender Shaq Moore from Tenerife in Spain, all of whom played for the Gold Cup-winning team last summer. Midfielder Yunus Musah (Valencia) and forward Tim Weah (Lille) return from injury.
Also summoned was Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget, who scored the final U.S. goal in the first three-game qualifying window in Honduras. He has appeared in 15 of the national team’s 16 matches this year and is tied with Brenden Aaronson for the team lead with four goals.
Omitted was defender Julian Araujo, Lletget’s Galaxy teammate and a dual national who remains undecided whether he’ll play for Mexico or the U.S. — although Berhalter hinted a decision was near.
“That’s information that he’s going to share with the group.
It’s not for me to share,” he said.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Zack Steffen (Manchester City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
Defenders: George Bello (Atlanta United), John Brooks (Wolfsburg), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Tenerife), Tim Ream (Fulham), Chris Richards (Hoffenheim), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray)
Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Luca de la Torre (Heracles), Sebastian Lletget (Galaxy), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (RB Salzburg), Paul Arriola (DC United), Matthew Hoppe (Mallorca), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas), Tim Weah (Lille), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus)
CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings
Pts W L T
Mexico 7 2 0 1
Canada 5 1 0 2
U.
S. 5 1 0 2
Panama 5 1 0 2
Costa Rica 2 0 1 2
Honduras 2 0 1 2
El Salvador 2 0 1 2
Jamaica 1 0 2 1
Next games
Oct. 7
U.S. vs Jamaica, Austin, Texas
Honduras vs. Costa Rica
Mexico vs. Canada
El Salvador vs. Panama
Oct. 10
Panama vs. U.S., Panama City
Jamaica vs. Canada
Costa Rica vs. El Salvador
Mexico vs. Honduras
Oct. 13
U.S. vs. Costa Rica, Columbus, Ohio
Canada vs. Panama
Honduras vs. Jamaica
El Salvador vs. Mexico
Rugby Canada announce 30-man roster for upcoming World Cup Qualification Pathway Series matches
Head coach Kingsley Jones has named the 30-man squad that will face off against the USA in their upcoming Rugby World Cup 2023 Qualification Pathway matches. The matches will be shown live in Canada through Premier Sports.
August 30, 2021 (St.
John’s, NL) – Head coach Kingsley Jones has named the 30-man squad that will face off against the USA in their upcoming Rugby World Cup 2023 Qualification Pathway matches. The matches will be shown live in Canada through Premier Sports.
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The winner of the two-match North American series is determined by an aggregate score across both games. The winner will move on to face Uruguay on October 2 and 9, with the victor of this series qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2023 as Americas #1. The loser of the two-match North American series will move on to face Chile on October 2 and 9.
Jones said, “We have been working tirelessly to ensure that our team is as prepared as we can be for these upcoming matches against the States. As we know, coordinating the logistics of assembling players in a COVID-world is no easy task and our entire group is thankful to our staff and hosts in St. John’s for their support and excited to be able to compete on home soil in these critical Rugby World Cup qualification matches.”
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team has been training in St. John’s, Newfoundland ahead of their upcoming qualification matches versus USA.
Jones added, “The St. John’s community has provided an excellent environment for our players to continue preparations for our upcoming Fall matches against the USA, as we continue to work towards our long-term goal of World Cup qualification.”
The first match, powered by DHL Rugby, kicks off at 3pm local time (1:30pm ET/10:30pm PT) on September 4 at Swilers Rugby Club in St. John’s, NL. Limited tickets remain and can be purchased by visiting www.mileonecentre.com. The return match will be hosted in Glendale, CO on September 11 with kick-off at 9pm ET/6pm PT.
CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM’S ROSTER:
- Kyle Baillie – Summerside, PEI – Nola Gold
- Ross Braude – Pretoria, SA – Toronto Arrows
- Cooper Coats – Halifax, NS – Canada Rugby 7’s
- Cole Davis – Calgary, AB – Austin Gilgronis
- Foster DeWitt – Courtney, BC – Pacific Pride
- Mason Flesch – Cobourg, ON – Toronto Arrows
- Matt Heaton – Godmanchester, QC – Rugby ATL
- Jason Higgins – Cork, Ire – Toronto Arrows
- Eric Howard – Ottawa, ON – Nola Gold
- Jake Ilnicki – Williams Lake, BC – Unattached
- Spencer Jones – Cambridge, NZ – Toronto Arrows
- Cole Keith – Apohaqui, NB – Toronto Arrows
- Will Kelly – Ancaster, ON – Toronto Arrows
- Conor Keys – Stittsvile, ON – Rugby ATL
- Lachlan Kratz – Victoria, BC – Nola Gold
- Ben Lesage – Calgary, AB – Toronto Arrows
- Kainoa Lloyd – Mississauga, ONT – James Bay AA
- Peter Nelson – Dungannon, UK – Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne
- Quinn Ngawati – Victoria, BC – Rugby United NY
- Patrick Parfrey – St. John’s NFLD – Toronto Arrows/Swilers RFC
- Rob Povey – Long Buckby, ENG – Houston Sabercats
- Andrew Quattrin – Holland Landing – ON – Toronto Arrows
- Tyler Rowland – Mississauga, ON – Toronto Arrows
- Lucas Rumball – Markham, ON – Toronto Arrows
- Djustice Sears-Duru – Oakville, ON – Seattle Seawolves
- Michael Smith – White Rock, BC – San Diego Legion
- Corey Thomas – Perth, Western AUS – LA Giltinis
- Matt Tierney – Oakville, ON – Castres Olympique
- Siaki Vikilani – Burnaby, BC – Toronto Arrows
- Brock Webster – Uxbridge, ON – Canada Rugby 7’s
-30-
ABOUT RUGBY CANADA
Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby XV’s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 30,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.
Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, with staff also working from Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournaments.
For more information, please contact: [email protected].
90,000
The composition of the Canadian ice hockey team 2021 – the main composition and the list of players of the team, current today, the list of players who play
| 29 | Mackenzie Blackwood Goalkeeper | Canada | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Canada | 30 | Canada | 30 | Canada | 30 | Canada | 30 | Canada | 30 | Canada | 30 | Canada | 30 | Canada | 30 | Canada | 30 | Canada | 9005 | Carter Hart Goalkeeper | Canada | 23 |
| Philip Myers Defender | Canada | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Canada 9005 | Ian Mitnicell | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ian Mitnicell | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ian Mitchell | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owen Power Defender | Canada | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Dante Fabbro Defender | Canada | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 257 | Defender | 257 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Shi Theodore Defender | Canada | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | Damon Severson Defender | Canada | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 51 | Troy Stecher | Defender | Brandon Montour Defender | Canada | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 72 | Thomas Chabo Defender | Canada | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pierre-Luc Dubois Forward | Canada | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Tyson Jost Forward | Canada | 23 | 28 | 14 | Adam Enrique Forward | Canada | 31 | ||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Jared McKenn Forward | Canada | 25 | 25 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | Kyle Tarris Forward | Canada | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | Matthew Joseph Forward | Canada Rye | Canada | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 39 | Anthony Manta Striker | Canada | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 59 | Tyler Bertuzzi Striker 61504 Canada | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 71 | Anthony Chirelli Forward | Canada | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 73 | Tyler Toffoli Forward | 8 | Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Canada | 30 |
The Cinderella Story.Team Canada became world champion, having started the tournament in Riga with three defeats – Sport
MOSCOW, June 7. / TASS /. The national team of Canada with a score of 3: 2 in overtime defeated the team of Finland in the final match of the World Hockey Championship, which was held in Riga. The Canadians won the tournament, starting with three defeats in a row.
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Having alternately lost to the teams of Latvia (0: 2), the USA (1: 5) and Germany (1: 3), the founders of hockey came under a storm of criticism at home. Despite the fact that overseas attention to world championships is not as close as to the playoffs of the National Hockey League (NHL), this start of the championship, performed by the Canadian national team, did not leave many indifferent.Many fans on social media called the Canadian team the worst in history and hoped to be strengthened by NHL players.
The Canadian national team announced only 24 out of 28 possible hockey players for the World Championship. Ten of them played less than a hundred games in the NHL and went to farm clubs during the season, four of them have no experience of playing in the best league in the world at all. Striker Justin Danforth, who played for Vityaz near Moscow in the 2020/21 season, also played nine games in the tournament.
The situation for the Canadians was further complicated by the fact that the team, unlike the European teams, did not have a single meeting before the start of the World Cup.For example, the Russians took part in four Euro-Challenge matches and three Eurotour games.
“We usually come a week before the World Cup, play a couple of friendly matches. This year we arrived, went through quarantine and then trained for three days, that’s all. Probably that was not enough, but that is what it is. This is a covid season.” – said the head coach of the Canadian national team Gerard Galland at a press conference after the final.
Savior of Canadians
After three defeats in a row, the Canadians have been strengthened by Calgary striker Andrew Manjapane.Due to the coronavirus and the postponement of the NHL regular season games, he arrived in Riga later than the rest of the team, on the same flight with his Russian teammate Nikita Nesterov. According to the regulations, hockey players in the capital of Latvia had to go through quarantine.
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Gallan immediately teamed up Manjapane with the most experienced player and team captain Adam Henrik, as well as Ottawa forward Connor Brown. In the fourth meeting of the tournament with the Norwegians (4: 2), the striking three organized all the pucks into the opponent’s goal, one of which was thrown by the striker “Calgary”.The players of the first link scored three of four goals against the national team of Kazakhstan (4: 2). Then the Canadians confidently defeated the Italians, who were significantly inferior in class to all the teams of the tournament (7: 1).
In the last meeting of the preliminary stage, the Canadian national shootout team lost 2: 3 to the Finns. The fate of the founders of hockey was decided in the confrontation between the teams of Latvia and Germany. In case of a draw in regulation time, both the Latvians and the Germans would have ended up in the quarterfinals, leaving the Canadian team behind the playoffs.However, the German team won 2-1 and the Canadians advanced from the group in fourth place.
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In the quarterfinals, the Canadian team beat the Russian national team 2: 1 in overtime – the goals were scored by the same Henrik and Manjapane. In the semifinals with the Americans (4: 2), the Calgary forward scored a double. In the decisive match with the Finns, the Canadians managed to recoup twice and snatch victory in overtime. At the end of the tournament, Manjapane scored 11 (7 goals + 4 assists) points in seven matches and was recognized as the most valuable player in the World Cup.
The press service of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) called the victory of the Canadian national team in the world championship the story of Cinderella. “It was my last world championship as head of IIHF, and it turned out to be unforgettable and incredible. When the Russian team lost, everyone talked about how weak Canada they lost, but now what to say? Canada is always Canada: unpredictable, strong, the teams are incredibly energetic, “IIHF President Rene Fasel told TASS.
No names win world championships
The Canadian national team’s victory story is also surprising in that the pioneers of hockey did not achieve success in the last world championships with a much stronger selection of players.At the 2019 tournament, the team with Shea Theodore, Sean Couturier and Mark Stone lost to the Finns in the final (1: 3). At that time, Jukka Yalonen had only one representative of the NHL at his disposal, and the backbone of the team was made up of hockey players from the local championship.
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In 2018, the Canadians with Connor McDavid were left without medals at all, finishing in fourth place. Often, NHL stars do not perform well after a long regular season at world championships. This is due to the long flight, and with adaptation to European sites, and sometimes with the lack of proper motivation.
Canadian stars are always confident that they will have more than one opportunity to get to the World Cup and compete there for gold medals. For example, in 2015 Sidney Crosby, Nathan McKinnon and Claude Giroud came to the tournament. As a result, in the final, the Canadians did not notice the resistance of the Russians (6: 1) with Evgeny Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin. Probably, in order to raise the prestige and level of the IIHF World Championship, it is worth thinking about holding championships less often than once a year. And certainly not to organize a tournament during the Olympics, where, under a new collective agreement between the players’ union and the NHL, all the strongest can again go.
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“I remember how they published the composition of the Canadian national team for the World Cup, what people wrote in the comments. Nobody gave us any chance, people were unhappy with the decision of our federation to assemble such a squad. We proved to everyone that they were wrong. We went through difficulties on this tournament, but they showed very good hockey when it mattered, and eventually won gold, “noted the author of the goal in the final of the World Championship in Riga, Max Komtua.
The last two world championships have clearly shown that it is not the stars who win the tournaments, but the motivated and hungry players who take every chance to prove their willingness to play for the country.
Russian system does not work
The Russian national team is repeatedly challenged to win gold medals in the World Championship, and almost always NHL players are called up to the team. Often, the leadership of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (FHR) is waiting until the last moment for hockey players who have taken off from the NHL playoffs. Thus, the training camp in Novogorsk, control games, matches of the Eurotour stages cease to be important, because during the world championship the team changes by half, and the combinations are collected from scratch.
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At the Riga tournament, the Russians entered the quarterfinals against the Canadians with ten NHL players, most of whom play important roles in their clubs. And at the last tournament, the most stellar line-up with Malkin, Ovechkin and Nikita Kucherov lost in the semifinals to the Finns (0: 1), who calmly play combinations throughout the season and, thanks to systemic play without big names, achieve high results at the last world championships.
The Russian national team last won the World Championship in 2014. Since 2015, the team has not reached the final of the tournament. During this time, the national team was led by four different coaches, and the scheme for choosing the composition for the tournaments was the same for everyone. Everyone hoped for NHL stars.
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Questions arise about the staffing of the coaching staff. If Valery Bragin has extensive experience working with the youth team and enjoys authority among many players, then his assistants Albert Leshchev and Alexander Titov did not work as head coaches even in the KHL clubs.Goalkeeping coach Stefan Persson failed his job at Spartak, but at the same time got a position in the Russian national team.
In the question of the formation of the FHR coaching staff, one can take an example from the same Canadians. The headquarters of the Canadian national team at the Olympics consists exclusively of the head coaches of the NHL clubs, each of whom brings their own experience to the team. The Russian national team has not beaten Canadians at major tournaments since 2011. “In the Russian national team, we always count only on victory, in the next match against the Canadians we will definitely win,” said Roman Rotenberg, vice-president of the FHR, head of the national team headquarters, to TASS.
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The closest major tournament for national teams will be the Beijing Olympics. If the Russians and Canadians do not meet there, then the opportunity to beat the current world champions of the Russian national team will definitely be provided already at the next world championship, which will be held from May 13 to May 29 in Finland. For the first time since 2003, the national teams of Russia and Canada were in the same group.
There are no Russians among the best players in the tournament, but there is a Briton
American Cal Petersen was recognized as the best goalkeeper of the World Cup, who played seven matches, played twice and saved 95.34% of shots.The best defender was the German Moritz Seider (0+ 5), the best forward was the Slovak Peter Ceglarik (5 + 6). The symbolic team of the tournament included goalkeeper Jussi Olkinuora (Finland), defenders Corbinian Holzer (2 + 2), Seider (both from Germany), strikers Manjapane, American Conor Garland (6 + 7), Briton Liam Kirk (7 + 2).
Manjapane tied for the top spot in the tournament with Kirk, who also played seven games. The top scorer and assistant was Canadian striker Connor Brown with 16 points (2 goals, 14 assists).Among the Russians, Alexander Barabanov (4 + 4) became the best in performance.
Russian defender Nikita Zadorov (“+11”) became the best in terms of usefulness. When he was on the court, the Russians scored 12 goals in equal compositions and conceded one.
Russia will play with Canada in the quarter-finals of the IIHF World Championship
The Russian national team will meet in the quarterfinals of the World Hockey Championship with Canada, which miraculously made it to the playoffs. The “red car” looks like a favorite, but the goalkeeper’s question may let the team down.Alexander Samonov brilliantly played the group stage, but Sergei Bobrovsky, who arrived from overseas, clearly does not want to remain on the bench, and the coaching staff continues to be torn between the players.
Students play for Canada, Russia is the favorite
The Russian national team won six wins in seven matches in the group stage of the World Cup, scored 28 goals (more than any other team in the tournament) and conceded ten (less than any other team in the group A).
It is important that the “Red Machine” added from match to match.After a tough victory over the Czech Republic (4: 3), the scattering of the obvious outsider of Great Britain (7: 1), and then a discouraging defeat from Slovakia (1: 3), which happened for the first time in 17 years, the feverish swing ended, and Valery Bragin’s charges began to play so confidently and solid, as the main contenders for the gold of the world championship should do.
Denmark (3: 0) and Switzerland (4: 1) were swept away by the rink, there was no stone unturned from Belarus (6: 0), and even in the match with Sweden, where Russia won only in shootouts (3: 2) , corny, had no luck with the implementation, while the team completely surpassed the rival in the game, practically not letting the Swedes out of their own zone.
Bragin’s team naturally reached the quarterfinals from the first place in Group A and got the rivals the team that took the fourth place in Group B. Canada unexpectedly turned out to be this rival.
Maple Leaves fail the World Cup group stage with three consecutive defeats. Moreover, they lost not only to the powerful USA (1: 5), but also to the modest Latvia (0: 2) and Germany (1: 3).
Fortunately for the players of Gerard Galland, then they had a series of matches with countries in which hockey is even less developed, and they were able to score important points, defeating Norway (4: 2), Kazakhstan (4: 2) and Italy (7: 1) ).
In the final meeting of the group stage, the Canadians needed to defeat the Finns in order to guarantee their participation in the playoffs. However, even in such an important match, they could not give their maximum and lost on shootouts (2: 3), gaining only one point.
The Canadians got into the quarterfinals only thanks to luck: Germany defeated Latvia in regulation time (2: 1) and knocked it out of the tournament, allowing Canada to take fourth place in the group. The Germans even joked after this meeting that “they expect a cake from the Canadians.”
Such a weak performance of the North American team is easy to explain: they have a far from stellar line-up. Most of the famous NHL players did not want to fly to Riga immediately after the end of the Stanley Cup fight and sit there in quarantine without any guarantees of participation in more than one or two matches. Those NHL players who agreed to participate in the World Cup are clearly not of the first magnitude. Moreover, a third of the current team of Canada plays in other leagues – the AHL, the KHL, there are also two students and a recent junior.
It is not surprising that Russia is considered to be the clear favorite of the quarterfinals, which includes strong players from the KHL, as well as from the NHL, such as Vladimir Tarasenko (St. Louis Blues), Mikhail Grigorenko and Vladislav Gavrikov (both Columbus Blue Jackets “), Nikita Zadorov (” Chicago Blackhawks “), Alexander Barabanov (” San Jose Sharks “) and others.
The main problem of Russia
Sergei Bobrovsky, the goalkeeper of the Florida Panthers, who flew in from overseas, recently completed his compulsory quarantine.In theory, he will be able to play in the quarter finals against the Canadians. On the one hand, this is good news, on the other, it is a real headache for the coaching staff.
The fact is that the goalkeeper of St. Petersburg SKA Alexander Samonov, who played six matches in the group stage, showed himself from the best side and conceded only ten goals – an excellent result for hockey.
The big question is whether it is worth changing him now to Bobrovsky, who did not leave his room for three days, sitting in quarantine, and had not yet managed to fit into the rhythm of the world championship.
Moreover, the only thing where the Florida goalkeeper is definitely superior to Samonov right now is experience. As for the current level of play, Bobrovsky spent the 2020/21 season far from his ideal form.
Two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion Boris Mayorov in an interview with Gazeta.Ru noted that he sees no reason why the SKA goalkeeper should be put on the bench: “Personally, I have no complaints or questions about Samonov. Let the coaching staff decide, this is their headache, not mine. “
Bragin himself admitted that having called the Florida goalkeeper to the World Cup, the coaching staff was in a difficult situation: “Bobrovsky has started to train. The goalkeeping coach says he’s in good shape. Let’s think this is a very serious issue. ”
Canada is capable of sensationalism
Mayorov also noted in an interview with Gazeta.Ru that the “maple leaves” will in any case offer Russia a worthy resistance.
“There will be no easy walk, despite Canada’s half-nightmare performance at this World Cup.The very fact that Canada is playing with Russia will make Canadians jump over their heads.
Here, too, we do not need to open our mouths and watch what will happen on the site. Although, conditionally, in the last match with the Swedes, I liked our team for its solidity, combinational play. We gave up a little initiative to the Swedes in the second half of the third period, and the team looked very good this way.
And with Switzerland, in principle, hockey was simple, but very good.So we have some groundwork, I think that in terms of skill level we are still higher today, “Mayorov summed up.
It is worth noting that the Canadian national team, despite the weak team play, can surprise with the individual qualities of hockey players.
So, in the race of the top scorers of the World Cup, Canadian Connor Brown was in second place, who scored ten points in seven matches (two goals + eight assists). Only two Russians could approach him – Barabanov (eight points) and Grigorenko (seven).
Maple Leaves striker Andrew Manjapane, who has scored four goals in seven games, is among the top scorers in the championship. None of the Russians surpassed this result – Barabanov and Anton Burdasov also have four goals.
In general, it’s definitely not worth relaxing in the game even with such a Canada. Moreover, the last time the Russian national team managed to knock out the “maple leaves” from the World Cup back in 2011. After that, all such duels ended in victory for the Canadians.
The match will take place on June 3 and will start at 20.15 Moscow time. Gazeta.Ru will conduct an online text broadcast of the meeting.
“This is a fantastic disgrace” The Russian national hockey team lost to the Canadians and was eliminated from the world championship: Hockey: Sport: Lenta.ru
The Russian national hockey team has not won the Canadians at the world championships for ten years. For a long time she was not so close to interrupting this streak, but she missed her chance. In the quarterfinals of the world championship, which is taking place in Riga, Valery Bragin’s team lost to the “maple leaves” in overtime.But before the starting throw-in, the Russians were considered favorites not only of this meeting, but of the entire tournament. The principal rivals arrived in Latvia not in optimal compositions – the same Canadians barely made it to the playoffs. About the world championship rich in sensation and the brightest moments of the sad match for Russia – in the material of “Lenta.ru”.
The Ice Hockey World Championship has not produced such a strange impression for a long time. Everyone can lose to everyone – there must be his slogan. From sensations: the victory of Kazakhstan over Finland (2: 1 in shootouts) and Germany (3: 2), the defeat of Canada from Latvia (0: 2), and then the defeat from the Americans (1: 5).And hardly anyone believed that Belarus could beat Sweden (1: 0).
The fact is that the leading hockey powers did not bring the strongest teams to the tournament. This year’s World Championship is somewhat reminiscent of the Pyeongchang Olympic tournament full of surprises. There, however, this was due to the absence of representatives of the National Hockey League (NHL). Now the team has joined some of the players who completed their performance in the Stanley Cup, but there are practically no celebrity names in Riga anyway.Neither the American Patrick Kane, nor the Swede Oliver Ekman-Larsson, nor the Canadian Mark Stone. By the way, one of the leaders of the current Canadian team is Maxim Komtua from Anaheim Ducks, a debutant of the World Championship adults.
If you analyze the composition of Canadians in more detail, then the main attention should be paid to defense. This is the weakest point of the “maple leaves”. The most seasoned player, Buffalo’s Colin Miller, has not shone at all this season. And Troy Stecher actually had one of the worst utility scores in Detroit.Offensively, everything is a little better: apart from Comtois, Ottawa’s second scorer Connor Brown and Andrew Mangypane with Gabriel Vilardi, who play in the top echelons of Calgary and Los Angeles, look relatively good. At the same time, in fact, this team, which even made up of not the last NHL players, in terms of level pulls to the third or fourth composition.
The Russian national team looks quite strong against the background of the others – that is why it seems that it did not make it to the list of sensational losers in the group stage. Even before the start of the tournament, the Russians were well-equipped.The roster immediately included, for example, Nikita Zadorov from the Chicago Blackhawks, Ivan Provorov from the Philadelphia Flyers, and Mikhail Grigorenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Valery Bragin
Photo: Grigory Sysoev / RIA Novosti
In the course of the championship, the Russians strengthened a little: the forward of St. Louis Blues Vladimir Tarasenko, the defender of the Washington Capitals Dmitry Orlov and the goalkeeper of the Florida Panthers Sergey Bobrovsky. And although for the last season in the NHL did not work out, they do not refuse the help of players of this magnitude.Of those who were very much anticipated, only the Capitals striker Alexander Ovechkin did not come to Riga. I was going, but health problems prevented.
The Russian national team started in the tournament on May 21 with a victory over the Czechs. The match turned out to be not easy: the teams took turns firing at each other and in the same way they celebrated the abandoned goals. The point was set by Mikhail Grigorenko 19 seconds before the end of regular time – 4: 3. At the same time, the head coach of the Russian team, 65-year-old Valery Bragin, for whom this world championship was his debut in office, denied any tremors during the match.“At this age, it doesn’t shock me anymore. We worked to the end. If we went into overtime, we would start thinking, ”he said at a press conference. The next day, there was really no nervousness – the Russians defeated the British with a score of 7: 1.
The Bragin’s team made the first and only misfire in the match with Slovakia, when they were able to answer three goals of the opponent with only one. Having conceded the first in the middle of the second period, the Russians rehabilitated themselves a minute later due to the accurate throw of Alexander Barabanov, but in the final segment they looked sluggish and hardly tried to oppose something to their opponent.After the match, the coach, the players, and the experts unanimously said that the problem was in their heads, in their mood.
“The opponent won with good dedication. This is a lesson for us, “Bragin confirmed on Match TV. Provorov noted: “The main conclusion from the match with the Slovaks is that you need to start from the first minutes, there is no time to swing at this tournament.” Boris Mikhailov, two-time Olympic champion, reacted a little more emotionally: “In Russian I will say: dudes are punished! If you come to the World Cup, you give your best in every game from start to finish.The Slovaks showed a very disciplined and organized game. They deservedly won our team. ”
Forward of the Russian national team Maxim Shalunov (right)
Photo: Grigory Sysoev / RIA Novosti
Did you manage to improve? Anyway, then there were 3: 0 with Denmark, 4: 1 with Switzerland, 6: 0 with Belarus. Only the Swedes resisted – with them it came to shootouts, but the victory still remained with the Russians.
So, Russia with six victories confidently led Group A, and the Canadians were almost left without the playoffs.In the last match of the group stage, against Finland, the “maple leaves” could not independently resolve this issue – they lost in shootouts (2: 3). After that, they could only keep an eye on Latvia and Germany and hope that they would meet in regular time. Only this nuance would allow the Canadians to remain in fourth place in Group B. To their relief, the score 2: 1 in favor of the Germans was established in the second period and remained until the final whistle.
Of course, Russia versus Canada is a sign worthy of the ending.Therefore, it may seem that at such an early stage as now, at the World Championships and the Olympics, teams have rarely met before. Nevertheless, over the past 15 years, in the quarterfinals of these tournaments, the Russians have played with “maple leaves” five times, and won three times. At the 2011 World Championships in Bratislava with a score of 2: 1, a year earlier in Cologne (5: 2), at the Games in Turin (2: 0).
The excitement around the new meeting was, as always, colossal. It is clear that, taking into account all the successes of the Russian national team in the group stage and a clear advantage in composition and skill, Bragin’s team was immediately added to the favorites.Two-time Olympic champion Vyacheslav Fetisov, for example, said that he was not worried about the result of the game. “Canadians? You can pass everyone here. It’s not even worth talking about. Why are you so worried? And what about the Canadians? Is there at least one famous hockey player there? If we don’t beat these Canadians, why did we go there at all? ” He asked.
The goalkeeper of the Russian national team Sergey Bobrovsky (center)
Photo: Grigory Sysoev / RIA Novosti
And the three-time world champion Vyacheslav Anisin predicted that Russia will first beat Canada and then take the gold of the tournament.“Let them at least bring pioneers, even juniors. This is called the championship of the planet, and Russia will have gold medals, ”the former hockey player emphasized. To be fair, the cautious “Canada in any lineup remains Canada” also sounded from time to time – even from the players of Bragin’s team.
I think Canada is Canada. This is the quarterfinals, all the teams that made it out of the group set the task to win. All the remaining games will go bone to bone, so we are getting ready for the hockey war
Mikhail Grigorenko
hockey player of the Russian national team
In Canada, they were quite skeptical about the possibility of success.This was especially true for the fans: during the tournament, they spread the team on social networks after each missed puck and did not even believe in reaching the playoffs. On Twitter, you can find the following comments about the failures of the “maple leaves”: “I did not expect a miracle. But I did not expect this either ”,“ It’s a shame, why did you go there at all ”,“ Just a mediocre team. I hope they will be able to win at least a couple of matches ”,“ We have been waiting for the World Championship for two years. Apparently, to see a normal team, you will have to wait three. ” And on Instagram most of the attacks were directed at the goalkeeper Darcy Kemper, behind whom ridiculous mistakes were noticed more than once in Arizona.
All of Canada’s 2021 World Cup group stage results. 0: 2 with Latvia, 1: 5 with the USA, 1: 3 with Germany, 4: 2 with Norway,
4: 2 with Kazakhstan, 7: 1 with Italy, 2: 3 (b) with Finland.
Officially, of course, it was announced that the Canadians will fight in the match with the Russians until the end, since they consider themselves a hockey nation. The head coach of the team, Gerard Galland, spoke about this. “We know that we are playing against a very strong Russian national team, but we will not go out to the match with the thoughts:“ If we lose, we’ll go home, ”he stressed in his commentary“ Championship.com “. And the columnist for the website of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), host of the podcast The Totally Ice Hockey Show, Lucas Aykroyd, told Sport24 that the advantage of the Russian national team is not so obvious. He also recalled the defeat of the Russians by the “Finnish noumea” at the 2019 World Cup (0: 1). And it turned out, not in vain.
The Canadians grabbed the puck from the first minutes and worked well in defense, not allowing the Russians to turn around. They themselves, however, almost did not reach the Bobrovsky gate either, and in the penalty area they acted a little timidly.A couple of nervous skirmishes – these are the main dangerous moments of the starting segment. The Canadians lacked determination, and the Russians lacked a powerful shake-up.
Canadian national team player Owen Power and Russian national team player Sergei Tolchinsky (right)
Photo: Grigory Sysoev / RIA Novosti
The break was more beneficial for the Canadians. They owned the puck more and easily stopped the Bragin’s team counterattacks. By the sixth minute of the period, the Russian national team had only one, unsuccessful, shot on goal – performed by Nikita Nesterov.True, the “maple leaves” themselves continued to have problems with completing their attacks – during the same period they managed to make only three throws.
The opponent’s pressure was active, but accurate, progressive: without violations and rough struggle. At the same time, it seemed as if they were in control of all areas of the site – at the tournament before this, such an impression from their game was not. True, when by the end of the period they slightly loosened their grip, the Russians immediately took advantage of this. Dmitry Orlov fought for the goal and rolled the puck onto a nickle, from where Evgeny Timkin threw it under the crossbar from an uncomfortable hand.1: 0!
It brought the Canadians to their senses. At the very beginning of the third period, after the removal of Tarasenko, Adam Henrik in touch sent the puck over Bobrovsky’s shoulder. 1: 1, and Bragin’s team had to start all over again. During the rest of the match, the Russians pressed, but the Canadians began to play more compactly. During the third period, the Russian players chalked up seven shots, but all to no avail. Everything went according to an obviously unplanned scenario, to overtime.
Before the first puck with such a Canada it was dangerous to play – the opponent was too active.And the “maple leaves” had a chance already in the first seconds of extra time. Brown went out the gate and gave it to a nickle, and Bobrovsky reacted to Henrik’s throw at close range. But before the Russians had time to exhale, Stecher took the puck, gave it to Manjapan, which closed in touch. 2: 1, Canada goes further!
Commentator Alexey Andronov was one of the first to react to the result of the match. “This is some kind of fantastic disgrace. Lose a squad with Bobrovsky and six defenders from the NHL to this Canada… “- he wrote. State Duma Deputy Dmitry Svishchev also called the result unacceptable. “I think there will be serious showdowns at the headquarters of our coaches. It’s unpleasant. We are all upset, ”he stressed.
Bragin stated that the set was to play actively and aggressively, but the opponent did not always allow it to be done. “There are such matches. Most importantly, the enemy played defensively, almost without failures. Couldn’t crack their defenses. The level of our hockey? It’s hard to say, you need to analyze everything, think.Canadians are Canadians. They always play well. It is somehow unethical to compare, ”added the specialist.
Bobrovsky, after leaving the ice, said that the team fought and gave everything. “I, like everyone else, am very upset, it is difficult to find words. I think everyone was preparing for victory, they were upset. It is very disappointing and sad to lose in overtime. For many children this was the first experience, for their development it was an invaluable experience. Of course, the whole country is upset, ”said the goalkeeper. And the captain of the national team Anton Slepyshev added: “I would not say that the guys played badly, they were confused.If they scored in overtime, there would be no such questions. I’m not ashamed of these guys. ”
For ten years the Russian national team has not beaten Canada at the World Championships. Seven years – does not win the gold championship of the planet. Ahead of the team – a return home, debriefing, a lot of criticism, and perhaps dismissals. Canada has a semi-final against the United States. But inspired by success, they can win the tournament! Now no one will be surprised at this for sure.
Canada, after the defeat, retained the chances of reaching the playoffs of the World Ice Hockey Championship :: Hockey :: RBC Sport
In the final match of the group stage, the team could not cope with the Finnish team, losing in the shootout, despite this they managed to overtake Kazakhstan and climb to the third line in the group
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Photo: Natalia Fedosenko / TASS
Team Canada could not beat Finland, losing in a series of shootouts (2: 3 B).Despite the defeat, the team retained the chances of reaching the playoffs.
Forward Brandon Pirri opened the scoring in the first minutes of the meeting (1st minute). The second goal for the Canadians was scored by Max Comtois in the middle of the second period (28th minute). Artt Ruotsalainen scored twice among Finnish players (21st and 56th minutes).
Ruotsalainen also converted the decisive bullet during the post-match series.
How Russia first left Sweden without playoffs at the Ice Hockey World Cup
The Finnish national team scored 17 points and guaranteed itself a place in the playoffs of the tournament.Despite the defeat, the Canadians retained their chances of reaching the playoffs, the team climbed to third place, gaining 10 points in 7 meetings. For the first time in their history, Canadians may not make the playoffs if the teams of Germany (9 points) and Latvia (9 points) determine the winner in overtime or in shootouts. The game will start at 20:15 Moscow time.
The quarterfinals will take place on May 3, with the new world champion announced on June 6.
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Author
Nikita Armand
Canada won the World Championship in Riga – Rossiyskaya Gazeta
World Cup 2021 will be remembered as one of the most controversial in the history of the tournament.On the one hand, these are political scandals around and a dull covid atmosphere with a minimum of fans and a low average level of skill inside. On the other hand, it is a fireworks display of amazing stories, an incredible number of possible scenarios, of which the most fantastic has become reality. Never before has a team that suffered four losses in a tournament won the championship title. The success of the founders of hockey has never been called sensational.
Bookmakers by inertia put the “maple leaves” on a par with the main contenders for the title, but Gerard Galland’s team did everything to part with the status of the favorite as quickly as possible.Firstly, the Canadians brought one of the weakest squads in their history to Latvia.
– I remember how they published the composition of the Canadian national team for the World Cup and what people wrote in the comments. Nobody gave us any chance, people were dissatisfied with the decision of our federation to assemble such a squad, – Canadian forward Maxim Komtua recalled after the final match.
Secondly, already at the start, Canada suffered three defeats in a row – the pioneers of hockey never started the world championship so badly in their lives.By the end of the group stage, the “maple leaves” had accumulated four defeats: with one foot they confidently stood on the verge of a grandiose failure, and their fate – what could be more surreal – was decided by such teams as Kazakhstan, Germany and Latvia.
– We ended up in a deep hole at the beginning of the tournament, but we got better and better. We usually arrive a week before the World Cup, play a couple of friendly matches. This year we arrived, went through quarantine and then trained for three days, that’s all, – then Gerard Galland explained the starting failure.
For the first time, the world champion suffered four defeats at the tournament
It is clear that when the Canadians, unlike the Swedes, nevertheless slipped into the playoffs, no one bet on them. Here are just matches right through – a purely Canadian story. Fighting to the last, bone to bone, is part of the Canadian mentality. As Rene Fasel, President of the International Ice Hockey Federation, rightly noted, “Canada is always Canada.”
On the way to the trophy, the “maple leaves” eliminated the most stellar team of this tournament, the Russian national team, the Americans who lost in the group, and, finally, the most systemic team of the world championship, the Finns.Moreover, from the latter, the Canadians took revenge for the defeat at the previous World Cup in 2019.
It is clear that almost a key role in the success of the Canadian national team belongs to its head coach Gerard Galland. Through his career in the National Hockey League, he proved that he is able to assemble a combat-ready team from the material at hand. Florida played their best season with him, and Vegas reached the Stanley Cup final in the first year after the club was founded.
By the way, since 1987 the winner of the pre-Olympic world championship has never won the “gold” of the Olympics.Surely Canadians will want to write another beautiful story. And we can only hope that in six months the history of the Russian national team will be brighter.
Meanwhile
The composition of the groups for the next world championship, which will be held from 13 to 29 May in the Finnish cities of Helsinki and Tampere, has become known. The national teams of Russia and Canada will definitely play in this tournament with each other, since they were in the same group.
The full composition of eights is as follows:
Group A: Canada, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Italy.
Group B: Finland, USA, Czech Republic, Sweden, Latvia, Norway, Belarus, Great Britain.
In addition, the International Ice Hockey Federation has updated the ranking of the best teams in the world. As in the previous version, it is topped by Canada with 3235 points. But the Russian national team (3050), which occupied the second line, fell back to third place: it was replaced by the Finns, the silver medalists of the 2021 World Cup (3125).
