Canada did a good job of finishing first in Group A at the World Junior Hockey Championship and securing an advantageous match in the quarterfinals.
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The Czech Republic, which concluded the playoff round in the fourth place in Group B, will not be an easy opponent for Canada on Saturday, according to head coach André Tourigny.
“We must remain humble,” Tourigny said on Friday.
The winning team of this duel will cross swords with the winner of the match between Slovakia and the United States. The semi-finals of the tournament will be held on Monday while the final will take place on Tuesday.
The other quarterfinals feature Russia and Germany as well as Sweden and Finland.
Canada was knocked out in the quarter-finals two years ago in Vancouver when it lost 2-1 in overtime to Finland, who went on to win the tournament.
Canada (4-0) is widely favored against the Czech Republic (2-2), but Tourigny notes that the Czechs blanked Russia 2-0 in the preliminary round and that they are playing well on a level playing field.
“They did us a favor by beating the Russians and showing us how good they can be,” said Tourigny. We are not going to take them lightly. ”
Canada could end up with 12 forwards on Saturday.
Alex Newhook appeared to have a shoulder injury in the first period of a 4-1 win over Finland on Thursday night and did not skate on Friday. Tourigny estimates his chances of playing against the Czechs to be “50-50”.
“If the match had taken place [vendredi], he would not have played, ”he stressed.
Connor Zary, who started the tournament as 13e forward from Canada, should have more ice time if Newhook is not in uniform.
Canada’s speed on offense – the 14 chosen forwards were selected in the first round of the NHL Draft – and its tenacious forward failure are the team’s strengths.
As Group A was weaker than Group B, Canada did not take the measure of its game well before taking on Finland.
The Finns are capable of competing with Canada in all three zones, but Tourigny’s men did not let them, dominating puck possession.
Canada’s opponents have yet to shoot at least 20 times at starting goaltender Devon Levi.
“It can be a tough situation when you don’t face a lot of shots for a long time and then you face a chance to score. When you have to make a difference. He has done a very good job for us so far, ”observed Tourigny.
The Czech Republic have not won any medals at this tournament since bronze obtained in 2005. They have not won top honors since 2001 in Moscow.
PHOTO JASON FRANSON, ARCHIVES THE CANADIAN PRESS
Guardian Lukas Parik (1)
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Nine Czech players are back this year after losing 5-0 to Sweden in the quarter-finals last year.
Defender Michael Krutil will return to the squad on Saturday after serving a game suspension.
The Czech Republic shared the duties in goal in the preliminary round between Los Angeles Kings prospect Lukas Parik and second-year goaltender Nick Malik.
Parik also stopped 30 pucks in his team’s shutout victory over Russia.
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