The Cobra
12-27-2010, 11:07 PM
As per Bob McKenzie....TSN
There is no doubt in my mind that Olivier Roy will be the starting goaltender for Canada against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
The plan going in was to have the starter for the first game also start in the second game. Then you would likely see the back-up, in this case Mark Visentin, come in against Norway on Wednesday because it would be a back-to-back situation. Canada would then have a day off before their game against Sweden.
All things being equal, Roy will be in net for Canada on New Year's Eve against the Swedes, but that's getting way ahead of things. You have to deal with the Czechs first and Dave Cameron's message to his team on the off day was this: "Respect the tournament, respect the Czechs. They are an incredible team and they cannot be taken lightly." That starts with the goaltending on out.
Another aspect that Canada will try against the Czechs is to get forward Brett Connolly a little more ice time as he kind of became the forgotten man against Russia on Sunday. Connolly had an injury in the pre-tournament games which pushed him down the lineup into the 13th forward position. He got some shifts early on against Russia but then as the game got tighter and the stakes were higher, and the Canadians got a lead to protect, Connolly saw his ice time dwindle. He is first and foremost an offensive player and he didn't really get into the game. I think Canada will try to get everyone more fully engaged in the game against the Czech Republic.
The Mighty Casey
Casey Cizikas is Dave Cameron's type of hockey player.
Cizikas is a selfless hockey player and a terrific penalty killer, something that Cameron was already well aware of before the tournament as he coaches him with the Mississauga St. Mike's Majors of the OHL. This is a player who at the final evaluation camp had a bit of a nagging injury and was unable to play in the final pre-tournament tuneup against the Canadian Interuniversity stars. For a lot of players that would be a huge problem because if you are not able to play in the games then how can you make the team?
Cizikas had two things going for him. One, obviously Cameron is already very familiar with him by coaching him in the OHL. Number two, Cizikas had a terrific performance at the Under-18 level and it's no surprise that a guy like Cody Eakin is on the same line as Cizikas here as they had great chemistry at the U-18 World Championship. He had those two things in his back pocket and that's a big reason why he is here in Buffalo with the Maple Leaf on his chest.
There is no doubt in my mind that Olivier Roy will be the starting goaltender for Canada against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
The plan going in was to have the starter for the first game also start in the second game. Then you would likely see the back-up, in this case Mark Visentin, come in against Norway on Wednesday because it would be a back-to-back situation. Canada would then have a day off before their game against Sweden.
All things being equal, Roy will be in net for Canada on New Year's Eve against the Swedes, but that's getting way ahead of things. You have to deal with the Czechs first and Dave Cameron's message to his team on the off day was this: "Respect the tournament, respect the Czechs. They are an incredible team and they cannot be taken lightly." That starts with the goaltending on out.
Another aspect that Canada will try against the Czechs is to get forward Brett Connolly a little more ice time as he kind of became the forgotten man against Russia on Sunday. Connolly had an injury in the pre-tournament games which pushed him down the lineup into the 13th forward position. He got some shifts early on against Russia but then as the game got tighter and the stakes were higher, and the Canadians got a lead to protect, Connolly saw his ice time dwindle. He is first and foremost an offensive player and he didn't really get into the game. I think Canada will try to get everyone more fully engaged in the game against the Czech Republic.
The Mighty Casey
Casey Cizikas is Dave Cameron's type of hockey player.
Cizikas is a selfless hockey player and a terrific penalty killer, something that Cameron was already well aware of before the tournament as he coaches him with the Mississauga St. Mike's Majors of the OHL. This is a player who at the final evaluation camp had a bit of a nagging injury and was unable to play in the final pre-tournament tuneup against the Canadian Interuniversity stars. For a lot of players that would be a huge problem because if you are not able to play in the games then how can you make the team?
Cizikas had two things going for him. One, obviously Cameron is already very familiar with him by coaching him in the OHL. Number two, Cizikas had a terrific performance at the Under-18 level and it's no surprise that a guy like Cody Eakin is on the same line as Cizikas here as they had great chemistry at the U-18 World Championship. He had those two things in his back pocket and that's a big reason why he is here in Buffalo with the Maple Leaf on his chest.