20 years after playing in the World Youth Championship, the Canadian goalkeeper completes the circle as a coach | The Canadian News

Olivier Michaud has some stories to tell the three goalkeepers on the Canadian youth men’s hockey team.

Two decades after he scored Canada’s goal at the 2002 U-20 world hockey championships in Hradec Kralove and Pardubice, Czech Republic, he is the goalkeeping coach for the 2022 edition.

“I remember almost everything,” Michaud told The Canadian Press. “Even if it was 20 years ago, it was my first and, until this year, my only world junior.”

He did not answer the phone in his hotel room during selection camp for fear of being told that he had been excluded from the team, beating two other goalkeepers to join Pascal Leclaire on the Canadian team, preparing for the first game against France at Christmas. . Hradec Kralove’s day on the icy sand, and Russian Alexander Svitov spitting on Canadian Brian Sutherby during a free-for-all game are among Michaud’s memories now most vivid due to his work on the current team.

Michaud played head-to-head matches against Switzerland and Finland with Leclaire at the net for Canada’s 5-4 loss to Russia in the gold medal game at Pardubice.

The spitting incident became part of Canadian youth hockey tradition as an example of a player putting his team before himself.

A livid Sutherby wanted to retaliate, but did not want sanctions or possible expulsion to affect Canada’s fortunes in the tournament.

“It was good just taking a deep breath and calming down and thinking about the team first because, yeah, I was frustrated,” recalled Michaud.

“We were also in the same hotel as the Russians. I remember a couple of squeaks in the hotel. “

Undrafted Michaud from Beloeil, Que., Started a game for the Montreal Canadiens in 2001-02 and went on to play as a minor professional. Now 38, Michaud works as a goalkeeping coach for QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Michaud and Leclaire beat Shane Bendera and Ray Emery for just two goalkeeping jobs on the Canadian team 20 years ago.

Unlike Michaud, the three Canadian goalkeepers did not endure sleepless nights on the selection field wondering if they would be included in the Canadian team for the 2022 youth world tournament in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta.

Dylan Garand felt the high and Brett Brochu the low of last year’s competition of five goalkeepers on the field of selection. Garand, Devon Levi and Taylor Gauthier were elected and Brochu was released.

But when Garand, Brochu and Sebastian Cossa received their invites this year, they were also informed that they were on the team.

“I was really excited to get that call,” said Brochu.

The trio stood out among their peers, it was Hockey Canada’s rationale for hand-picking them.

“I think it simplifies it and I think those three goalkeepers broke away from the group,” Canadian head coach Dave Cameron said.

Advances in technology since Michaud played gave Canada’s coaches and scouts the video and data analysis to make that determination.

“Every shot, every time they played the puck this year, I saw it,” Michaud said.

Garand, Brochu and Cossa had the luxury of working intensively with Michaud during the selection camp.

“If there had been four or five (goalkeepers), it would just have been making sure they are safe and comfortable,” said the goalkeeping coach.

“It was still that, but I had a different angle for each of the guys to do it. There are some things that I want to make sure we grow before we start the tournament, so we start those little details right now instead of starting a week later.

“There are starts and minutes to win. Not that they come here on vacation. They have to sync up with the team. ”

The Canadian team moved to Banff, Alta., After the 25-player roster was announced Sunday.

All three goalkeepers played in both of the national team’s exhibition games against a varsity team, but “because these goalkeepers are chosen and because I had so many other decisions to make, I didn’t pay much attention to my goalkeepers,” Cameron said.

Competition for the openings in Edmonton heats up in the lead-up to the tournament. Canada faces Switzerland on Sunday and Sweden on Monday in Red Deer, followed by a game on December 22 in Edmonton against Russia.

Those games carry a lot of weight in determining who will be on Canada’s network to open the tournament on December 26 against the Czech Republic at Rogers Place.

“You want to go there and you want to play,” said Cossa, who is eight feet tall. “You want to help the team win.”

Garand, a New York Rangers prospect, is a veteran of the team that won a silver medal at the 2021 tournament in Edmonton, although Levi played the majority of minutes.

Garand’s play was limited to allowing one goal on six shots in the third period of a 16-2 thrashing over Germany in the opener.

The six-foot-one, 179-pound Kamloops Blazers goalkeeper carried a 15-4-0-0 record, a 1.85 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and two shutouts in the WHL on the field. of selection.

“It was great that the three guys came in knowing there isn’t a lot of pressure on you,” Garand said. “I can speak for the three of us. We definitely appreciate it.

“It definitely made things better for us and it’s great to come in and know that you’re going to be on the team and start working.”

Cossa, a first-round draft pick for the Detroit Red Wings, also came in with solid stats of a 15-3-2-1 record, 2.26 goals against, a .924 save percentage and two shutouts for the Edmontons. WHL Oil Kings. .

Brochu, who is eligible for the NHL draft in 2022, posted an OHL-leading 16-5-1-0 record for the London Knights.

Goals against the five-foot-11 and 175-pounder were 2.28, his save percentage was .921 and he posted a shutout.