'Under the Microscope': Team Canada Prepares for World Juniors

Logan Stankoven knows he and the rest of Team Canada will be under the microscope when theWorld Junior Hockey Championshipbegins.

Not only will the team play at home when they face Latvia in the tournament's first game on Wednesday, but the Canadian will do so during a period of intense scrutiny over his hockey. .

Hockey players across the country are used to being put under a microscope, he said, Stankoven.

"I don't think it matters who the players are or what the team is. Hockey is a big thing in our country and it brings people together," he said. . At his home in Kamloops, Columbia, he kept a close eye on every action of his Blazers players.

"So I think the spotlight is always on us. You want to be a great role model for young kids."

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Criticism of Hockey Canada grew as the 10-team tournament began in Edmonton on Tuesday.

National sports organizations have faced heavy criticism in recent months for their handling of sexual assault allegations against former world junior team members.

} The allegations prompted a congressional investigation and the federal government to freeze funding for the organization.

Well-known sponsors such as Telus and Canadian Tire followed suit, with no advertising on the ice at Rogers Place and the usual logos on the surrounding boards.

Team His Canadian goalkeeper Dylan Garland said players knew little about what was going on.

"Hockey Canada folks, the staff above have done a very good job of making sure and letting us know we're handling things on the ice. And our job is , to focus on the ice and our group," he said. "So it's been good and I wouldn't say there's additional pressure on us. We're focused on hockey."

The buzz and excitement surrounding the first tournament of 2022 in Edmonton Red Deer, Alberta is scarce.

Its iterations lead to an increase in his COVID-19 cases among players and officials, leading to the game being forfeited. He was called off on December 29 after just four days because he was forced to do so.

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Retaining the postponed version in August may have caused some players to speed up. Czech head coach Radim said Rurik.

"December is obviously in the middle of the season, so there's definitely a big difference in the players' bodies," he said Tuesday through an interpreter. "But when it comes to tournaments, young players are so adaptable that I think things will go back to normal." As a case in point, the International Ice Hockey Federation has allowed players born in 2002 who are already 20 years old to play in this summer's championships.

Despite realigned qualifications, former captain Kaiden Goulet (Montreal Canadiens prospect) and Buffalo Sabers first overall selection for 2021 NHL entry. Several Canadian talents are missing from the tournament, such as defenseman Owen Power. draft. Forward Shane Wright, who was the fourth overall pick by the Seattle Kraken in last month's 2022 draft, is also absent.

Team Canada, Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard will headline Kent Johnson, who was part of the Olympic men's team that finished sixth at the Beijing Olympics.

Mason McTavish also wore maple his reef at the Olympics and captained the Canadian crew in Edmonton I'm here.

"It means a lot to me. Obviously, if I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be here," he said. The Junior Worlds is one of the best competitions in the world.It's such an honor for me to be here and to be the captain of this team.I'm really looking forward to Wednesday."{82

The postponed 2022 tournament misses a major competitive threat as the International Ice Hockey Federation keeps Russia out of the race over Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

READ MORE: Canada beats Sweden 4-3 in World Junior Test

Fewer than 200 men I was in the stands for the first match of the tournament on Tuesday.An afternoon tilt between Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Slovakia (0-1-0) led 2-0 before the end of the first period. However, the Czech Republic (1-0-0) fought back to win 5-4.

Lack of spectators was not a problem for Slovak forward Selvak Petrovski.

"I'm not surprised it's 12pm. Game," he said.

Back in Slovakia, it was 8pm. He added that there was likely a lot of people watching on TV when the puck dropped. 1) scored a decisive 6-1 victory, there were even more seats left.

Defending his champion American looked easy as he beat Germany 5-1 in the final game of the day on Tuesday.

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