PowerPlay žurnalas

Team Canada has played six games since last reported for 8 games in total. While they may not be winning as many as they’ve liked, there is a clear sense of team chemistry building and some players are beginning to stand out on the international stage.

On December 26^th Team Canada travelled to Slovenia for their third exhibition game. They would head into the third period tied but of the 13 shots Noah Tierney would face in the final 20 minutes, he would only stop 11 and Slovenia would go on to win the game 5-3. The game was fairly evenly matched. Canada did not match the shots Slovenia put on net, and they also took more penalties, but the Canadian team can be proud they chased a high quality goalie in Darko Gamser from the net after the first period.

To start off the new year, on January 2^nd 2010, the Canadians would host the Spaniards in exhibition play. While the Spaniards would control much of the play, outshooting the Canadians 34-25, it would be Canada who would come home with their first win in friendly play with a score of 5-1. Stealing the spotlight in the win was William Beliveau with a goal and an assist and Noah Tierney who only allowed 1 goal on the 34 shots he faced.

The following Saturday the Canadians would host their rival Russians. Once again Canada’s opponent would dominate the play, outshooting Canada 34-16 but the game would end in a 2-2 draw. Noah Tierney made 32 saves on the night and has begun to solidify himself as Canada’s number 1 goalie. However, the following game against Hungary he would be less fortunate. Canada’s trend of being dominated by their opponent caught up with them when they traveled to face the Hungarian team. The shots were a familiar 35-16 in favour of their opponents but this time the score was a much more lop-sided 5-1. Should Canada have any success in the tournament they will need to play much more solid defence and more importantly, take fewer penalties.

On January 23^rd this recipe was put into action. Team Canada faced the Austrians in northlands, Canada’s new home rink.  While attendance was disappointing, the game was not. The two teams combined for 16 goals on 64 shots. While Canada still allowed more than 30 shots on the game, they doubled their count the past few games peppering the Austrian goalie with 32 shots and burst out with 10 goals on the game. Team Canada’s third and fourth lines did the bulk of the scoring, notching 7 of the ten goals on the game.  The win would improve Canada’s record to 2-3-2 (W-L-T).

Just this past Saturday, Canada faced Austria once again, this time on Austrian soil. The hosts came out hard and wanted revenge for their embarrassing loss the week prior. Both teams scored 2 each in the first but it was the third period that swung the game in Austria’s favour. Canada took a timely third period penalty which the Austrians capitalized and then scored with just over two minutes left as Canada was pressing for the tieing goal.

Next up, Canada will take their 2-4-2 record on the road to face the Americans. After which they will have 4 more games to work anything out in hopes at securing a world championship success this season.