Dylan Garand and what we learned from the final at the World Juniors
Canada is golden once again at the World Juniors.
The 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship came to a conclusion on Saturday night, with both the gold and bronze-medal games being hosted at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Canada toppled Finland for gold in dramatic fashion courtesy Kent Johnson (Columbus Blue Jackets) and his overtime winner at 3:20 of the extra frame. Johnson’s goal came after Mason McTavish, the No. 3 pick of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, batted a puck out of the air and swept it off his own goal line as it was bouncing towards an empty net.
“My stick was in the right place at the right time to knock that puck away from our net [in overtime],” McTavish said. “Looking back, I am not sure why I was behind [Dylan Garand], but I am happy it worked out. Next thing I knew I was on the bench and Kent [Johnson] was on a breakaway.
“It has been a long journey to get to this moment, and it is so special to win it with this group of guys who put in so much hard work since last summer. I am incredibly proud to be Canadian.”
Sweden captured bronze with a 3-1 win over a plucky Czechia group.
Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild) made 27 saves for the victory.
“It was a tough loss yesterday,” said Swedish captain and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Emil Andrae, according to the IIHF. “We had to re-group and come together and we talked about having a responsibility to our country. Of course, it was for Tomas Monten, too. It was his last game. We had to do it for him. He’s had six years of grinding, so I’m happy to get a bronze medal for him. He’s a good coach. That’s what this last game was all about.”
Garand shines for Canada with a golden performance
Garand, selected by the New York Rangers in the fourth round (No. 103) of the 2020 NHL Draft, was the go-to man for Canada between the pipes all tournament long. He was strong in every start but saved his best performance for the most crucial game of the event. Garand was steady for Canada stopping 29 of 31 shots in the gold medal game, helping the Canadians best Finland en route to the championship.
He was relied upon in every big moment for Canada in this event, and his performance in the final game was easily his best of the tournament. Garand has been highly decorated in his career thus far, but coming up big for Canada when they needed him most will easily be one of the highlights for the budding star.
Canada has had a number of goalies backstop them to gold, and Garand joins the rather impressive list with his performance at this event.
Rosen scores the game winner as Sweden nabs bronze
All tournament long Sweden has gotten off to slow starts, which resulted in them losing in the semifinals to rival Finland. In the bronze medal game, the Swedes got out to an early lead and, despite facing some adversity in the second period, they were able to overcome Czechia and win the bronze. Isak Rosen, nabbed with the No. 14 pick in the 2021 draft by the Buffalo Sabres, scored the game-winner helping Sweden leave with hardware. Rosen scored his fourth of the event, and most critical, to push Sweden over the top.
Sweden will be disappointed that they couldn’t come away with more than third, but will be happy that they ended the event with a medal for their efforts.
Things were different this year with the World Juniors helping kick off the draft season in August, but now that the event is over we can get back onto a normal schedule. Canada, Finland and Sweden all medaled at the event and will now begin to prep for the 2023 WJC that kicks off at its normal time on Boxing Day.
DAY 1: JOAKIM KEMELL AND THE THINGS WE LEARNED ON DAY 1 OF THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 2: CONNOR BEDARD AND THE THINGS WE LEARNED ON DAY 2 OF THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 3: MASON MCTAVISH AND THE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM DAY 3 OF THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 4: OSKAR OLAUSSON AND THE THINGS WE LEARNED ON DAY 4 OF THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 5: WYATT KAISER AND THE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM DAY 5 OF THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 6: RALFS BERGMANIS AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM DAY 6 OF THE WORLD JUNIORS
DAY 7: RIDLY GREIG AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM DAY 7 OF THE WORLD JUNIORS
QUARTERS: ROBY JARVENTIE AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE QUARTERS AT THE WORLD JUNIORS
SEMIS: OLEN ZELLWEGER AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE SEMIFINALS AT THE WORLD JUNIORS
FINALS: DYLAN GARAND AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE FINAL AT THE WORLD JUNIORS