Team Latvia knew there was no room for mistakes or undisciplined play if they were to keep Wednesday’s round-robin matchup against Canada close, let alone have a chance at pulling off the upset, so suffice it to say taking four minor penalties within the first 22 minutes was not an ideal game plan.
Even when the teams were playing at even strength it often looked and felt like Canada had an extra skater. That was especially true when Canadian forward Macklin Celebrini was on the ice.
Celebrini’s incredible vision, passing, puck sense and knack for the net were all on display in Canada’s 10-0 rout of Latvia on Wednesday and the projected first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft finished the game with one goal and four assists.
The top prospect assisted on three of Canada’s first four goals before scoring his second of the tournament after receiving a terrific stretch pass from Matthew Wood.
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The 17-year-old added another apple in the final period and, unsurprisingly, was named Canada’s player of the game. He was one of eight different players to score a goal and one of 14 Canadians to register at least one point in the game.
Celebrini now leads the entire tournament with six points heading into Thursday.
REHKOPF MAINTAINS GOAL-PER-GAME PACE
Kitchener Rangers forward Carson Rehkopf got in on the action with an even-strength marker to make it 4-0. Rehkopf took a puck poked ahead by Celebrini and shielded it masterfully as he beat the defender wide before cutting inside and switching to his forehand to bury his first of the tourney.
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Rehkopf looked like a prototypical power forward during the highlight-reel goal and capitalizing on nifty moves like that has become standard practice for the Ontario Hockey League star.
The Seattle Kraken second-rounder scored his second of the game, also assisted by Celebrini, in the third period as Canada continued extending their lead. Rehkopf is the active OHL goals leader with 31 in 31 games, and if you add his two world junior outings to his 2023-24 totals, he’s at 33 goals in 33 games so far this season.
GEEKIE REDEEMS HIMSELF AFTER MISSED TAP-IN
Conor Geekie opened the scoring for Canada by firing a great shot from his off-wing into the mesh just four seconds into Canada’s first power-play opportunity early in the game.
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Save for a couple sloppy penalties and giveaways in the neutral zone – both occasional symptoms of one-sided contests such as this one – there wasn’t too much to nitpick on the Canada side, yet had Geekie only managed that initial goal, he would’ve certainly left the game disappointed.
The Arizona Coyotes prospect, selected 11th overall in 2022, had several other quality chances before finally getting his name back on the scoresheet in the third period.
Geekie was visibly frustrated after missing what should’ve been an automatic tap-in goal in the second period. Geekie flubbed an unreal Celebrini pass and the miss resulted in a funny reaction from Geekie’s family, who watched in disbelief from the stands.
ROUSSEAU IN CONTROL OF CANADA’S CREASE
You might’ve figured a game against an overmatched Latvian team would be one for Canada’s backup goalies to see some action, and most years you would’ve been right. However, it was Mathis Rousseau between the pipes for Canada again on Wednesday and the decision paid off.
Rousseau stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced in Canada’s 5-2 win over Finland on Tuesday and set the tone early with his phenomenal save of the tournament candidate, robbing Finland of an early lead. He had a much less arduous outing Wednesday. The undrafted 19-year-old, who spends his time in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads stopped all 22 shots he faced against Latvia to earn the shutout.
The ice was tilted for the duration of the game, so the scoring chances Rousseau faced were few and far between. He only needed to make five saves in the opening 20 minutes as Latvia failed to generate any chances off the cycle, on the rush or from the slot. He was tested nine times in the second period and had to be sharp on a handful of scoring chances in tight. Same deal in the third period. Rousseau was sharp when he needed to be and was unscathed after 60 minutes. Mission accomplished.
In the other net, Linards Feldbergs had the unenviable task of starting against Canada and he was pulled early in the third after allowing his seventh goal on the 31st shot he faced. Aksels Ozols entered the game in relief of Feldbergs and allowed three goals on the 10 shots he faced.
NEXT UP: Team Canada gets to rest Thursday before returning to the ice Friday for an anticipated Group A matchup with Sweden, which will likely determine the top seed going into the quarterfinals. Canada will be playing with a rest advantage as Sweden faces Germany Thursday in their attempt to match Canada’s 2-0-0 record. Latvia, meanwhile, will look to score their first goal of the tournament Friday against Finland.
