• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
International Hockey
World Junior Hockey Championship

Canada Loses to Russia but Team Set

By Craig Hagerman December 20th, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Despite out-shooting the Russians 53-20, the Canadians dropped their first exhibition game 2-1 at the Air Canada Centre Friday night.

Canada seemed to dominate the play in the rematch of last year’s bronze medal game that saw the Russians reign victorious over the red and white, but like last year, the Russians had the last laugh. Alexander Sharov scored with just over a minute left in the extra period after Canadian goaltender Zach Fucale fumbled a shot to the glove side and was left defenseless on a cross-ice pass that Sharov easily slid into the open net.

However, the story of the night was Russian goaltender Ilya Sorokin. The 19-year-old netminder made an overwhelming 52 saves on 53 shots, with a large portion of them falling in the ‘jaw-dropping’ category. He looked like a rock and looks to be a very good candidate to replicate the impressive goaltending performances put on by Andrei Vasilevskiy in the previous three tournaments. One would expect after that outing that the New York Islanders prospect could be the go-to-guy for the team when the tournament gets going.

Bright Light for Canada

Meanwhile for the Canadians the line of Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, and Sam Reinhart was their most consistent and most dangerous

Max Domi

London Knights Max Domi was a standout Friday for the Canadians. (Terry Wilson/OHL Images.)

on the night. Early indications suggest that this line will be the team’s second line once the tournament begins. The trio has been skating together ever since the team’s camp opened and thus far they seem to have a very good awareness of where each other is on the ice.

Not only did Domi, of the OHL’s London Knights, not find a spot on the Canadian roster one year ago, but to the dismay of many, he did not even receive an invite to the selection camp. However, early on he seems to be a standout with his vision on the ice looking to be his most valuable skill. The son of former Maple Leafs tough-guy Tie Domi will look to be relied upon to provide offense for a Canadian team hoping to put an end to its recent gold medal slump.

Expected number one overall pick in next year’s draft Connor McDavid did not take part in Friday’s game as he, Nic Petan, and Curtis Lazar (made available to Team Canada by the Ottawa Senators Thursday) all took in the contest from the press box. It is believed McDavid and Lazar will make up 2/3 of the team’s top line, with the other winger position going either to Petan or possibly to Guelph Storm forward Robbie Fabbri. Fabbri has a long history of playing with McDavid dating back to when the two played minor hockey together.

Between the Pipes and the Blueline

Fucale got the start for the Canadians in goal on the same day that he was traded from his junior team, the Halifax Mooseheads, to the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. Fucale made 18 saves on 20 shots in the loss. The 19-year-old was not tested nearly as much as his Russian counterpart and looked shaky on both goals against him. Fucale took over for Jake Patterson in last year’s tournament and will battle the only other goaltender invited to camp, Tri City Americans Mike Comrie, for the starting position on the Canucks squad. Comrie will get a chance to show his worth in the team’s next exhibition game Sunday.

The team’s most impressive blueliner on the night was returning player Josh Morrissey. Morrissey opened the scoring from the Canadians in the second period after taking a pass from Domi and placing a wrist-shot over the blocking glove of Sorokin.

Zach Fucale looked a little shaky Friday making 18 saves on 20 shots.  [photo: David Chan]

Zach Fucale looked a little shaky Friday making 18 saves on 20 shots. [photo: David Chan]

The 19 year-old is expected to quarterback Canada’s power play and already is looking to be an offense-first defender and is not afraid to jump up into the play.

Russian Standouts

Sergei Tolchinsky scored the tying goal for the Russians late in the second period on the power play,when after Fucale failed to control a knuckle-puck, the Carolina Hurricanes prospect centered the puck, which was accidentally knocked into his own net by Reinhart. The Moscow native was not drafted by the Canes, but rather was signed by the team as a free-agent and will be looked to move his team a couple spots up the podium from last year.

The Russian roster currently sits at 30 players meaning the team will still have to make eight cuts before the Christmas Day deadline. Of the players Russia invited to their camp, 11 have been drafted by NHL clubs, including Nickolai Goldobin who was selected 27th overall by the San Jose Sharks last year. At the moment it seems very unlikely that the Buffalo Sabres will make the 16th overall pick in 2013, Nikita Zadorov available after the team was hit with multiple injuries on their back end.

Looking Ahead

Following the game Team Canada made its final cuts to the roster, releasing Rourke Chartier, Haydn Fleury, Michael Dal Colle, and Jason Dickinson. Consequently, the final two tune-up games will include the team’s full roster:

Forwards:

Connor McDavid, Nic Petan, Curtis Lazar, Max Domi, Sam Reinhart, Anthony Duclair, Nick Ritchie,  Nick Paul, Brayden Point,  Lawson Crouse, Frederik Gauthier, Robbie Fabbri, and Jake Virtanen

Defencemen:

Darnell Nurse, Shea Theodore, Samuel Morin, Madison Bowey, Josh Morrissey, Dillon Heatherington, and Joe Hicketts

Goalies:

Zach Fucale and Mike Comrie

Following their game against Sweden, Canada will play one more tune-up against Switzerland Tuesday before they open the tournament on Boxing Day when they face Slovakia. Meanwhile the Russians also see their first action on Boxing Day when they take on Denmark.

  • Tags
  • Connor McDavid
  • Ilya Sorokin
  • Max Domi
  • Team Canada
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 24th 11:00 AM
Archives

Canucks Have an Eye for the Swedes

Jan 24th 10:50 AM
Montreal Canadiens

The Best Canadiens Team Since 1993 Stanley Cup

Jan 24th 10:47 AM
Archives

Bruins’ All-Time Best Draft Picks

Jan 24th 10:25 AM
Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Options to Replace Stephens on the Fourth Line

Jan 24th 9:55 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers’ K’Andre Miller an Early Bright Spot on Defense

Jan 24th 9:45 AM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres’ Bottom-Six Forward Woes Continue

Jan 24th 9:25 AM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Donato Looking Good Early

Jan 24th 9:15 AM
Vancouver Canucks

Canucks Can Make Quinn Hughes the Team’s Cornerstone

Jan 24th 9:05 AM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Jets’ Trade For Dubois Controversial, But Has Potential to Pay Off

Jan 24th 8:55 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers Have Been Plagued by Weak Prospect Development

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information