Canada's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skates during team practice for the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 27, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
UFA, RUSSIA - Steve Spott has but one area of concern regarding Slovakia, but it could be enough to give Canada headaches.
“The trap,” Canada’s coach said following practice on Thursday. “They don’t cross centre unless they have an opportunity to attack. We’re really going to have to manage the puck well, not turn it over and make sure we get it in deep. They very rarely will chase you behind the net. That’s going to be concern, the trap they run.”
After an opening 9-3 triumph over Germany in the 2013 world junior championship, Canada faces Slovakia at 3:30 p.m. (4:30 a.m. Eastern) on Friday.
Historically, Canada has had little trouble with Slovakia at the world junior, going 6-0-1 and outscoring the Slovaks 31-8. The tie came in 1999 in Winnipeg, but Canada has not been met with much of a challenge otherwise, with the most recent game between the two countries an 8-2 Canada win in 2010.
