At the world junior hockey championship, Jack Ivankovic witnessed a familiar storyline unfold on Saturday, reminiscent of a year ago. The University of Michigan goalie relied on his teammate Michael Hage, a standout player for the top-ranked NCAA program, to once again deliver in a crucial moment.
Hage, a highly skilled forward and a first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2024, proved his worth by scoring the game-winning goal in overtime for Canada against Latvia. With just 44 seconds into the extra period, Hage capitalized on a power play opportunity to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory, preventing a potential upset.
Ivankovic praised Hage’s abilities, emphasizing his knack for finding the back of the net when given time and space. The crucial goal came on a 4-on-3 man advantage, with Gavin McKenna setting up Hage for a decisive one-timer.
Reflecting on the match, Hage expressed satisfaction in contributing to the team’s success and credited his solid connection with the puck on the game-winning shot. McKenna, who provided two assists, also acknowledged the relief of securing the win after a tense battle with Latvia.
In addition to Hage’s heroics, Cole Reschny scored on a power play for Canada, while Ivankovic made 26 saves to anchor the team’s defensive efforts. Latvia’s Rudolfs Berzkalns managed to find the net, but Nils Maurins’ 36 saves were not enough to stop Canada’s determined performance.
Canadian head coach Dale Hunter commended his team’s resilience and strategic play against a defensively sound Latvian side. The victory over Latvia marked a significant redemption for Canada, following a heartbreaking shootout loss to the same team a year earlier.
Looking ahead, Canada will face Denmark next in the tournament before concluding their Group B matches against Finland on New Year’s Eve. The team displayed patience and determination in overcoming Latvia’s challenge, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the competition.