Canada goaltender Malcolm Subban stretches during practice in Ufa, Russia, Dec. 25, 2012. (MARK BLINCH/Reuters)
Malcolm Subban has been given the nod to start in net for Canada against Germany in the opening game of the World Junior Hockey Championship on Boxing Day.
Canadian head coach Steve Spott hopes the Belleville Bulls goaltender will maintain his No. 1 status throughout the tournament.
"Our plan is to name one guy and maybe it's different from years past, but hopefully that one guy will carry the ball throughout the tournament," Spott said earlier this month.
Subban was named starter despite a shaky selection camp and exhibition match against Finland in which he made 19 saves in a 3-2 loss. In the OHL, however, he is 15-7-3 with a 2.17 goals-against average and .932 save percentage this season.
Owen Sound Attack goaltender Jordan Binnington will back up Subban. Saginaw Spirit netminder Jake Paterson is the team's alternate.
After its opener against Germany, Canada will face Slovakia on Dec. 28, the U.S. on Dec. 30 and Russia on Dec. 31.
