Perhaps the most defining aspects of Canada’s 6 -3 victory over Slovakia, was the manner in which the team was able to rally after two game misconducts, and pair of two-goal deficits . What brings to light after this game is validity of both game misconducts that were assessed to both J.C. Lipon and Anthony Camara. Both misconducts followed hits that many Canadian fans perceived as a clean and within the rules. Perhaps one can assess that the referees based their penalties on both players based on the outcome, and not the act itself. In the case of Camara’s hit on Slovakia forward Patrik Luza, the only aspect of this hit that would deem worthy of a misconduct would be the fact that he was taken on a stretcher as a result of the hit; however, if one were to look at the hit objectively, the argument can be made that it was a clean hit. In reflection of Boone Jenner‘s 3-game suspension, Team Canada head coach Steve Spott now has the frustrating task of not only keep his kids focused, in spite of the possibility of losing both Lipon and Camara for the next game; he is left with finding a way to adjust his team’s style so they can maintain their level of physical play, and avoid losing more of his players to questionable suspensions.

Team Canada Goal Scorers

Ryan Strome (2)
Morgan Rielly
Ty Rattie
Mark Scheifele
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Team Slovakia Goal Scorers

Marko Dano (2)
Tomas Mikus