Canada, U.S. aware of unprecedented stakes in outdoor clash
BUFFALO and ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Both sides in the highly anticipated tilt between Canada and the United States at New Era Field on Friday know full well that while it will undoubtedly be a sight to behold, there's far more to lose in this outdoor affair than in any previous contest of its kind.
Sure, it might look like many of the NHL's modern outdoor "Classics" - be they of the Winter, Heritage, or Centennial variety - but the key figures involved in this world juniors edition know that unlike those midseason matchups played amid 82-game slates, the stakes are unusually high for a spectacle like this.
"This is different," Team USA head coach Bob Motzko said Thursday afternoon following an indoor practice at Buffalo's HarborCenter. "Usually, it's a regular-season game, (but) this is a game that really could have major implications in seeding, so this means something big."
Less than 12 hours later, that comment took on an even deeper meaning as the defending gold medalists were shocked 3-2 by Slovakia - a squad Canada shut out 6-0 on Wednesday night. That stunning result made yet another one of Motzko's observations from Thursday appear rather prescient.
"When you look at the history of these (outdoor) games, they're low-scoring," he said. "So, you've got to get ready to play hard and play heavy, and not make a lot of mistakes in a game like that. I think the excitement will (be) over quickly, and then it's going to be (about) survival."
After an unexpected loss, "survival" is suddenly the priority for the U.S. side.
Meanwhile, Team Canada head coach Dominique Ducharme trusts his players not to forget what's on the line amid all of the distractions.
"I think our guys are mature enough to understand the meaning of the game and the way we want to handle it," he said Thursday following his squad's open-air practice at New Era Field.
While it could determine seeding for the medal round, Ducharme knows the stakes could certainly be higher.
"It's not a do-or-die situation," he said. "We know it's an important game, but we're focused on ourselves before the result."
Still, he made it clear they're taking it very seriously.
"Yes, it's going to be played outdoors, but once it starts, game on."
The weather has also been a significant talking point and could be a factor Friday, as in any game of this ilk, but Ducharme knows that's out of his hands.
"There are (always) things that we don't control, in any game," he said. "(In an) indoor game, you (have) that. Outdoors, there are more things, but you have to concentrate on the things you control, and that's what we're going to do."
Canada's captain, Dillon Dube, said he could barely stand still after going through Thursday's practice in the cold.
"That was my first time on pretty much pond ice in a long time. It was a little different, it was weird, but overall, right now I'm just shaking thinking about the game (Friday). It's incredible."
The other major subplot is, of course, the heated rivalry between the two North American nations, and Team Canada defenseman Jake Bean admitted he still hasn't fully come to terms with the crushing shootout loss to the United States in last tournament's gold-medal game.
"(I haven't for) quite some time. I don't know if anyone's over it yet," he said. "It's kind of something that sits in the back of your mind, and I think a lot of the guys are excited to get back out there (and face the U.S.) again."
Team Canada blue-liner Dante Fabbro, who was also on the previous team with Bean, said Thursday he and the others who endured the heartbreaking defeat have used it as motivation and a learning experience.
"It was obviously a pretty tough experience last (tournament), but all the returnees definitely learned from what happened and kind of implemented that into our team this year. Obviously, we want to finish the job and get the upper hand early on in the tournament."
Given what happened to the U.S. on Thursday night, Canada does have the upper hand for now, but an American victory Friday would get the hosts right back in medal-round contention.
A game that already had so many compelling storylines just got even more interesting.