Team Canada held an optional practice at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday. Team Slovakia held a full practice at 3M Arena.
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Before taking the ice for his first shift in the New Year’s Eve game, Zayne Parekh told his longtime pal Michael Hage that he was going to get a goal.
“He scored 20 seconds later,” Hage said with a big smile. “I was losing my mind.”
“Me and Hager have been saying dumb stuff all tournament,” Parekh said with a grin. “It finally worked.”
Parekh also added two assists in Canada’s 7-4 win over Finland, which clinched top spot in Group B. The Calgary Flames defenceman is tied for the scoring lead at the World Juniors with eight points.
After producing just one assist in 11 games during an injury-plagued start to the season with the Flames, Parekh hoped to regain his mojo in Minnesota. And that’s exactly what’s happening.
“It’s been so much fun,” the 19-year-old from Nobleton, Ont. said. “I wish I could stay here all year and hang out here as long as possible. I’m sad. I’m kind of counting the days down. It’s coming to an end. It’s been great for me. It’s a refresher. I really needed this, and I’m loving every second.”
Parekh’s play and personality are big reasons why Team Canada went undefeated in the preliminary round.
“He’s got so much confidence and swagger,” said centre Cole Beaudoin, who also produced three points against Finland. “You see it in his game and even off the ice. I was not around when he called his shot, but I’m sure he did, because it’s the type of player he is.”
“He’s just very loose,” said Team Canada captain Porter Martone. “I think that’s what makes him him. He’s very calm.”
“He’s pretty laidback even in games,” said Hage, who is a Montreal Canadiens prospect. “You’ll miss chances and he’ll come over and laugh at you, and it kind of lightens up the mood. He keeps everything pretty light. It helps you not get too down on yourself.”
Parekh is appreciating the opportunity to be himself on and off the ice in Minnesota. Why is he so comfortable showing his personality with the media? Is it from watching a certain athlete?
“It’s more [from] watching NHL guys be robots and not having any personality,” Parekh said with a laugh. “I think you need some personality. It’s kind of the best way to grow the game. I don’t want to come in here and be a robot. When I’m in Calgary, I definitely have a lot of guys that are telling me to give really simple answers, but here I can kind of do what I want.”
On the ice, Parekh is getting the green light to be himself as well.
“He has some freedoms,” said Team Canada head coach Dale Hunter, who also runs the bench for the London Knights and watched Parekh eclipse the 30-goal mark in back-to-back seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. “We got some rules we put in and some structure, but other than that, he’s got to see the opening when it’s there, and when it’s not there, don’t do it. It’s up to him.”
That approach has allowed Parekh to bounce back quickly from any tough shifts.
“If I have a bad play or I make a mistake, the next shift I’m trying to make an impact again,” Parekh said. “I feel like I’ve been flipping the page pretty easily and it’s really helped me.”
Parekh taking over World Juniors with his play and personality There are four players tied for the World Juniors scoring lead with eight points, but only one of them is a defenceman. That would be Canada’s Zayne Parekh, who scored Wednesday night and is now up to four goals in four games. Adding to Parekh’s brilliance this tournament, Michael Hage revealed after the game that Parekh actually called his shot and told him he was going to score low blocker before doing just that. Mark Masters has more.
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Parekh credits his long stick and distinctive skating style for turning his shot into a real weapon.
“It goes maybe to my bottom lip now,” he said of his stick. “It used to be up to my nose. I cut it down a bit, but not much in the grand scheme of things … I can leverage the puck so much and it kind of snaps off my stick. I skate pretty straight up, so I can kind of get some snap on it and it comes hot off the blade.”
Parekh is tied for third in the tournament with four goals. No other defencemen has more than two.
Parekh’s passing ability is also on display at the World Juniors.
“He’s played in the NHL,” noted Martone, who is a freshman at Michigan State. “He realizes you need to snap it around. He fires it so defenders don’t have a chance to intercept it.”
“He’s right on the tape,” observed Hunter. “It’s hard, so he catches guys off guard a lot.”
Parekh reminds Hunter of Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard, who he coached in London.
“He sees those long stretch passes that a lot of guys don’t see,” Hunter added.
“He’s got his head up,” said Canadian forward Tij Iginla. “That’s a huge thing for playmaking. It lets him see a pass, however far it is.”
One of Parekh’s laser beam stretch passes led to an Iginla breakaway goal during a second-period power play against Finland.
“I saw Iggy and he was, like, making some silly faces at me and I hit him in stride and he did the rest,” Parekh said.
Silly faces?
“Yeah, it looked like he angrily wanted the puck,” Parekh explained. “I gave it to him and he delivered.”
“I don’t know if I would say I was making faces,” Iginla responded. “He’s got unbelievable vision and that was on display more times than just that one.”
Parekh has four assists in four games.
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Iginla’s goal came 30 years to the day that his father, Jarome Iginla, recorded a hat trick for Canada at the World Juniors en route to a gold medal in Boston. What’s it like to carry on the family tradition?
“It’s special for sure,” the 19-year-old said. “But will only really consider it ‘carrying it on’ if we win it.”
Iginla’s parents were in the crowd to witness his goal live on Wednesday.
“It was cool,” the Kelowna Rockets sniper said. “Any time that I can play well with them watching, and in an atmosphere like this, and in a big game, it’s special.”
Is Iginla getting a lot of advice from his Hall-of-Fame father?
“Nothing too crazy,” the Utah Mammoth prospect said. “If I’m in a little bit of a slump or something like that, he’ll encourage me. It’s more after games and looking at what I can work on and encouragement, and things like that. He usually lets me be a little bit more leading up to the game.”
Iginla on carrying on family tradition at World Juniors: ‘It’s only carrying it on if we win’ Team Canada forward Tij Iginla, son of Jarome Iginla, looks back on his goal against Finland on Wednesday night and explains what it was like playing in front of his parents.
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Parekh is quick to point out that he was not the only Canadian player to call his shot on Wednesday night.
“Hager, before the power play, told B-Marts that it’s coming,” Parekh revealed. “And it happened.”
Hage, who operates on the flank of the top unit, fed Brady Martin at the net front for a power-play goal in the first period.
“Watching the pre-scout on them, I had an idea that I was just going to have to beat just one stick and he was going to be wide open,” Hage said. “It was a good job by him burying it.”
“We give them three or four options that could be available,” said assistant coach Brad Lauer, who oversees the power play. “And they talk amongst each other.”
Canada is seven for 13 on the power play and leads the tournament with a 54 per cent success rate. Seven different Canadian players have scored on the power play.
“We’re very predictable right now with each other and when you’re predictable and you understand each other, you can make plays with each other and we’re starting to do that now,” Lauer said.
Canada has scored a power-play goal in every game.
Canada Ice Chips: Hage calls his shot as power play stays hot Canada’s power play has been on fire at the World Juniors, leading the tournament at 54%. They’ve scored a power play goal in all four games and are a confident bunch on the man-advantage. Mark Masters has more.
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Martin does not have much experience playing in front of the net on the power play, but has made a seamless transition to the role.
“I love it,” the Soo Greyhounds forward said. “I mean, I’ll stand in front of the net, and I’m not scared of it. I’ll just take the eyes away.”
Early in training camp, Lauer spent extra time working with Martin on where to accept passes down low.
“It’s not an easy position to play,” Lauer said. “He’s doing well at it. He understands when to get in the goalie’s eyes. He understands when to be available down low. He understands when to pop up into the bumper spot. It shows his intelligence.”
Martin’s hockey IQ is not in question. His decision-making when it comes to his diet, however, is a hot topic around Team Canada.
Before the tournament, Martin revealed he usually eats two chocolate-glazed donuts from Tim Hortons before games. However, that routine has been scrapped in Minnesota, where the coffee chain does not have any locations.
“Haven’t had any in a while,” Martin said. “It’s been tough to get them. We’re not in Canada right now.”
How’s he filling the void?
“I usually get some Chick-fil-A,” the Nashville Predators’ fifth overall pick said.
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Hage looks like a man on a mission at the World Juniors.
“I just think he wants to be the guy,” said Parekh. “He loves the spotlight. He embraces it … He’s been our best player probably.”
Hage assisted on both of Martin’s goals against Finland.
“He always makes the right play,” Martin said. “If you get open, he’ll find you. Just his hands and his IQ take him a long way.”
Hage is tied for the tournament scoring lead with eight points, including two goals. Is he extra motivated after being left off last year’s World Junior team?
“It’s more me wanting to win so bad,” Hage said. “I think everyone just elevates the level they’re playing at, and that’s what I feel like I’m doing.”
“It’s in his nature to begin with,” Hunter said. “Whenever he’s playing, he’s driven.”
With 28 points in 20 games with the University of Michigan, Hage is among the top scorers in the NCAA during his sophomore season.
“Ever since my first year of juniors when I got hurt, I just wanted to prove a lot of people wrong and show that I could get better and better every single year,” the 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont. said. “So that’s really it.”
Hage missed most of the 2022-23 season after sustaining a torn labrum during his first USHL practice with the Chicago Steel.
‘He wants to be the guy’: Hage emerging as Canada’s catalyst at World Juniors Michael Hage is emerging as Team Canada’s catalyst at this year’s World Junior Championship and the Canadiens prospect shared his thoughts on embracing the role.
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Martone picked up one assist on Wednesday night and finished minus-two.
“We were alright,” he said of his line, which includes Michael Misa and Iginla. “I think a big thing in this tournament is you need all four lines to be successful, and we contributed in our own way last night.”
Martone made his presence felt with physical play and did his best to agitate the Finns. During one post-whistle scrum, Martone grabbed the glove off the hand of Arttu Valila while falling to the ice. Martone skated away with the glove and dropped it in the bench.
“Just playing my game,” he said with a smile. “As the games get tougher, I’ve got to play on that edge and not cross that line. That’s who I am, and that’s how I play.”
It’s that type of play that has earned the Philadelphia Flyers sixth overall pick comparisons to some of the top shift disturbers in the NHL.
“I’ve been compared to Corey Perry and the Tkachuk brothers,” Martone noted. “I like to play on that line and be a hard player to play against.”
Martone channels Perry, Tkachuk as Canada’s top line finds different way to contribute Team Canada captain Porter Martone talks about his line’s performance in the win over Finland and looks back on losing in the quarterfinals at last year’s World Junior Championship.
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Canada’s top line has been quiet for most of the World Juniors.
“A big thing we’ve talked about in meetings is that at the end of the tournament there’s not going to be a photo of one person up on the wall,” Martone said. “It’s a team photo when you win a gold medal. At the end of the day, points don’t matter with this group. We’re a very unselfish group, and we’re all fighting with each other to win a gold medal.”
Still, it’s hard not to feel the pressure to produce, especially for a guy like Misa, who has been playing in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks.
“Obviously, I’d like to help the team out a little bit more myself, but we’re finding ways to win,” the second overall pick in June’s NHL draft said. “Different people are stepping up.”
Misa produced a goal and two assists in a blowout win over Denmark, but mustered just one assist in the other three group-stage games. The 18-year-old centre did not hit the scoresheet against Finland.
As he looks to get in a groove offensively at the World Juniors, Misa is keeping words of wisdom from Sharks teammate Macklin Celebrini in mind.
“Just to be myself and not worry about anything else,” Misa said of the advice. “He said, ‘Just trust the process, and it’ll all be good.’”
Misa reached out to Celebrini after the 19-year-old was named to Canada’s Olympic team.
“I texted him yesterday and wished him congrats,” Misa said. “He was asking me how the tournament is going and stuff.”
Misa reveals advice from Olympian Celebrini as he seeks more production at World Juniors Michael Misa may not have contributed on the scoresheet in Canada’s win over Finland but he is pleased that different people are finding ways to step up. Misa also spoke about his Sharks teammate Macklin Celebrini earning a spot on Canada’s Olympic roster.
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Carter George allowed four goals on 18 shots on Wednesday night as his save percentage cratered to .844 in the tournament.
“For me, the only stat is wins,” said the Owen Sound Attack goalie, who is 3-0-0.
George’s save percentage is the lowest among goalies who have played at least 40 per cent of the minutes for their team in Minnesota.
Hunter was asked if he’s still confident with George in the quarterfinals.
“Oh yeah,” he said before quickly adding that he prefers not to confirm his goaltending plan until game day.
Backup goalie Jack Ivankovic, who is 16-4-0 with a .927 save percentage at Michigan this season, picked up a win against Latvia (.963 save percentage) in his only appearance so far in Minneapolis.
George’s numbers are not great in the OHL this season as he has an .899 save percentage in 22 games. But the 19-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont., previously led Canada to a gold medal at the under-18 World Championship and is considered a clutch performer by Hockey Canada’s staff.
“Had a great third period,” said assistant coach Gardiner MacDougall. “You want to play your [best] when the game is on the line, and he had to make big saves in the third for us.”
“G-Mac always says the most important one is the next one,” George noted. “I just lived by that.”
George stopped all six shots he faced in the third period on Wednesday.
“It doesn’t really matter if he’s let in one, zero, three, he’s pretty unflappable,” said goalie coach Dan De Palma. “You know you can count on him to not to lose his way in the middle of a game. The third period last night is a good example. He shuts the door.”
And George’s numbers wouldn’t look quite so bad if Finland’s third goal by Lasse Boelius had been disallowed. Joona Saarelainen swatted George’s glove with his stick as he tried to make the save.
The officials ruled that George’s glove was outside the crease.
“They know the rule better than me,” said De Palma. “For me, the spirit of goalie interference is: Did you interfere with the goalie and prevent him from making a save? I thought that happened.”
Canada remains confident in George despite poor save percentage Despite a poor save percentage throughout the World Junior Championship so far, Team Canada has full confidence in goaltender Carter George the rest of the way and George says the only stat that matters to him is wins.
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Canada will be playing Slovakia in a do-or-die quarterfinal on Friday night. It’s the first game between the countries at the World Juniors since a dramatic 4-3 overtime win by Canada in the quarterfinal of the 2023 World Juniors in Halifax.
“It was really sad,” said forward Adam Nemec, whose older brother captained Slovakia in Halifax. “Slovakia is a small country, and we know how big the win will be if they win. It gives us big inspiration that we can win against big countries like Canada.”
Did Simon Nemec, who plays for the New Jersey Devils, tell Adam anything about that game?
“Not really. It was too sad.”
What was it like for the brothers growing up?
“He’s older, so he put me in the net,” Adam, 18, recalled. “I was the goaltender when I was young.”
The younger Nemec couldn’t wait to escape the crease. Unlike his brother, Adam is a forward.
“I like to score goals,” he explained.
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The 2023 game between Canada and Slovakia ended when Connor Bedard deked around all three Slovaks on the ice, including Nemec, and beat goalie Adam Gajan.
“It was probably one of the best games I’ve ever seen,” said Slovak goalie Michal Pradel. “My friend Adam Gajan was playing. Just a crazy experience.”
Pradel has leaned on Gajan, who just led the U.S. Collegiate Selects to the final of the Spengler Cup, for advice during the World Juniors.
“He was telling me, ‘Just enjoy the game. Focus on the moment,’” the Detroit Red Wings prospect said.
Pradel, who plays for the Tri-City Storm in the UHL, planned to check in with Gajan again prior to the quarterfinals.
Pradel has an .894 save percentage in three games at the World Juniors.
“I like watching tall, big goalies like [Connor] Hellebuyck and [Jake] Oettinger,” said Pradel, who stands 6-foot-5. “Those are my role models.”
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With five goals and three assists, Slovak forward Tomas Chrenko is tied with Hage, Parekh and Gavin McKenna for the tournament scoring lead.
“He’s absolutely brilliant,” said Nemec, who also plays with Chrenko on Nitra MHC in the Slovak league. “I tell him to keep shooting. We have chemistry at the club and here too. It’s good.”
How does the draft-eligible Chrenko describe his style?
“Smooth style,” he said.
His favourite players are Nathan MacKinnon and William Nylander. Why?
“MacKinnon is unbelievable,” Chrenko said. “And Nylander is smooth.”
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What will it take to beat Canada?
“It will take 100 per cent and more,” said Slovak coach Peter Fruhauf. “We have to go way out of the comfort zone.”
Canada has 16 wins and one tie in 17 all-time meetings with Slovakia at the World Juniors.
“We’re facing a great team with a huge talent,” said Fruhauf. “It’s going to be hard, but on the way here we became a family. Boys would die for each other and it’s a huge thing. It’s not ordinary. So, let’s use this. I wish success to the boys. The goal of success is not the quarterfinal game. It’s semifinal and maybe more.”
‘Boys would die for each other’: Slovakia aims to avenge ‘very sad’ loss to Canada The 2023 World Juniors in Halifax saw Canada take on a spirited Slovakia side in a game that needed overtime heroics from the Canadians to advance. The memories still sting for the current Slovakian side and a few of the players shared their thoughts on that game.
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Team Canada lines in Wednesday’s game:
Iginla – Misa – Martone
McKenna – Hage – Martin
Desnoyers – Beaudoin – O’Reilly
Luchanko – Reschny – Cootes
Bear
Reid – Parekh
MacKenzie – Brunicke
Aitcheson – Danford
Verhoeff
George starts
Ivankovic
Scratches: Greentree, Carels, Ravensbergen