Your cart is currently empty!
Roster Choices Haunt Canada in Shocking WJC Loss
The entire bench for Canada was noticeably bewildered following their 3-2 shootout loss to Latvia at the 2025 World Junior Championship. Canada’s second group stage game was a shocking wake-up call for one of the global hockey powerhouses. Coming off a fifth-place finish at last year’s event, all of Hockey Canada has been vocal about how this year’s tournament is about redemption and reclaiming the gold medal.
A loss to the Latvian squad has made one thing clear for Canada: their roster is not constructed to win at this event. Lots of chatter has been had around Hockey Canada’s selection camp, with notable names being left off the final roster.
The most glaring omission was forward Beckett Sennecke and 2025 draft-eligible winger Michael Misa. Sennecke is a big, physical winger prospect for the Anaheim Ducks who is excellent in his own offensive end and can be a bit of a pest in the defensive end. He was a late addition to Canada’s selection camp, which definitely hurt his chances, but he would be the perfect addition to this team.
Where he would’ve helped the most is on the power play. To Canada’s credit, they managed to net a huge goal with the man advantage against Latvia, but they finished the game converting on just that one power play opportunity. Sennecke has the vision, shooting ability and net front skills that could have made the difference against Latvia and made an impact throughout the tournament.
Misa has been one of the best players in the entire CHL this season, and he’s making his own case to be the top pick at the 2025 NHL Draft. He’s currently averaging a goal a game through 30 contests to go with 61 points this season. He has an undeniable offensive skillset, but he’s also eager to engage physically on the ice. His game perfectly aligns with Canada’s mission of being tougher and stronger in all three areas of the game, but he never even received an invite to the selection camp.
Canada’s power play, as currently constructed, is costing them goals and wins. They turned to Tanner Howe, a pesky forward in his own right, as the net front option and he’s been ineffective in the role through two games. Having Sennecke in that role or Misa’s playmaking instead feels like a slam dunk decision in hindsight.
Defense has been just as big a concern for Canada. The power play was set to be quarterbacked by 2025-draft eligible prospect Matthew Schaefer. He looked at home in the role against Finland, but an upper-body injury could rob Canada of their top offensive defenseman for the rest of the tournament.
Now, there is no one to fill his role and be as productive. Oliver Bonk is not a top power play defenseman, but Canada trotted him out first for all four of their power play chances against Latvia.
Would having one of Zayn Parekh or Carter Yakemchuk fix that issue for Canada? The two were the most notable defensive omissions, but Canada would welcome both after seeing the consequences of lacking a No. 1 defenseman. Parekh and Yakemchuk provide similar skillsets to Bonk, Schaefer and Sam Dickinson, but it’s clear that the trio Canada chose was not its best three possible choices.
Canada’s heartbreaking loss in the World Junior Championship has left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads over the roster choices made by the coaching staff.
Despite being favored to win the tournament, Canada fell to the Czech Republic in a stunning upset that has left many questioning the decision-making behind the team’s lineup.
Some have pointed to the exclusion of top prospects in favor of more experienced players as a major factor in Canada’s defeat. Others have criticized the lack of chemistry and cohesion among the players, suggesting that the roster selections may have been to blame.
Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Canada’s loss in the WJC has left a bitter taste in the mouths of fans and players alike. It’s a reminder that even the most talented teams can falter if the right choices aren’t made when it comes to selecting the roster.
As Canada looks to bounce back from this disappointing defeat, it’s clear that the coaching staff will need to reevaluate their roster choices and make sure they have the best possible lineup on the ice for future competitions. Only time will tell if this shocking loss will serve as a wake-up call for Team Canada.
Tags:
- Team Canada roster choices
- World Junior Championship upset
- Canada hockey team defeat
- WJC loss analysis
- Roster decisions impact game
- Canada’s shocking defeat
- Team selection troubles
- World Juniors upset aftermath
- Roster mistakes in WJC loss
- Canadian team performance review
#Roster #Choices #Haunt #Canada #Shocking #WJC #Loss
Leave a Reply