[GDT] Ongoing 2025 WJC Game Day Thread

[Roughneck]

These unsanctioned leagues are basically developing regional super teams on their own, so it’s closer to pushing NDTP style setups on its own.

[stemit14]

I know we as flames fans are biased but it really is frustrating to see such talent left off this roster. It’s more evident when you see the US bringing the top players from this last draft (Buium, Eiserman, Hutson) and they are being impactful players. Canada’s defence especially looks very conservative compared to how dynamic the US looks. The combination of losing Schaefer to injury and excluding Parekh + Yakemchuk from the roster is really being felt. Obviously it’s the penalties that cost them the game tonight but, outside of that, they do seem to struggle to generate high quality scoring chances for long stretches.

Thought Ritchie had a quiet game despite looking good in the other games. Like others, I have not liked Cowan’s tournament so far even if you exclude the dumb penalties. McKenna and Catton were by far the best forwards for team Canada… again frustrating because those players are younger (just drafted and to be drafted in 2026) so imagine if the roster was full of the more skilled players that were just drafted in 2024.

I don’t get the logic of prioritizing having more 19 year olds over having the most skilled players. Guys like Misa and Parekh are dominating against 19 year olds in the OHL so they could do the same in this tournament. I know it’s not just age but HC has repeatedly argued it’s a tournament for 19 year olds.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Goaltending is the reason, not Huska.

Couldn't disagree more. Goaltending is looking great in large measure to Huska's ability to coach here. That defence is leaky as hell, and it looks mostly good most nights. Flames have the weakest defensive corps in the league, yet aren't coughing up glorious chances like they have in season's past, including under Sutter. This is the best I have seen the Flames play defensively for many coaches now with much better personnel.

[PaperBagger'14]

I have assembled this team of undisciplined teenagers and it’s up to them to discipline themselves.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1874312102607020497

[Aarongavey]

One would have to think that Chris Lazary had some say on whether Parekh was on the team. Probably was not just Cameron

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I have assembled this team of undisciplined teenagers and it’s up to them to discipline themselves.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I have assembled this team of undisciplined teenagers and it’s up to them to discipline themselves.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1874312102607020497

####! I hate Dave Cameron!

[PaperBagger'14]

Just want to share this too that Dave Cameron wasn’t the sole person in charge of the roster, the full list of evaluators is in the first main paragraph:

https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/ne...niors-2025-wjc

However for the coach to say what Cameron said about discipline is pretty half assed. Sometimes a coach has to discipline the players so they in turn show discipline.

[All In Good Time]

Almost as intelligent as Cowan

[GirlySports]

Brent Sutter coaching juniors would bench anyone.

[kipperiggy]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Cameron truly is a moron if he does not play the McKenna Cowan Pinelli line for 23 minutes next game. The only line that has been going in every game.

Catton?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by kipperiggy

Catton?

Yes Catton. Definitely not Cowan.

[indes]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Fair points. Personally I’m a big fan of the US National Development Program and would like to see something similar here. I’m not sure if that’s possible given the current structure of minor hockey in Canada without a major restructuring.

Also I’m now drunk on wine and can’t really process my thoughts properly. So that doesn’t help. Lol.

I agree, its weird these days - a lot different then when I was playing minor hockey for sure. Not sure if the states is the same but in Canada there's a growing amount of routes you can take. Unfortunately each one seems to cost more than the last, I wish hockey was a high school sport with a national development program - but there's just too much damn money in it.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Huska would coach them the exact same way. It's the only way he knows how to coach, everything from the perimeter, nobody in front, no skill plays allowed. The Flames have more skill then you think but it's neutered

Lol Huska has the Flames in a playoff spot on Jan1

Cameron loses to Latvia with an all star team

[Goriders]

Huska is a god. Plain and simple.

[FlamesAddiction]

I would prefer if this tournament was just for draft eligible players. I know the point of the tournament is not to just be a showcase for the draft, but I'd probably be more interested in it if it was.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

As Paulie pointed out they are playing Sutter hockey. Huska is Sutter hockey without the shot volume. Even if Cameron had taken the other skill players nothing would change. That's why McKenna doesn't look like a phenom. That's why we acquired a 100+ point skill player and he became a pumpkin. Having smaller skill players like Huby, Zary, Pelletier, Kuzmenko, etc.. and playing North/South everything from the point perimeter game is just mind boggling stupid.

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Your hatred for Huska is comical and broken record at this point. And Huberdeau was way more ineffective under Sutter then he is under Huska.

You need a new shtick

Yeah, it's pretty embarrassing at this point. It's some weird vendetta that doesn't align with reality.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

As Paulie pointed out they are playing Sutter hockey. Huska is Sutter hockey without the shot volume. Even if Cameron had taken the other skill players nothing would change. That's why McKenna doesn't look like a phenom. That's why we acquired a 100+ point skill player and he became a pumpkin. Having smaller skill players like Huby, Zary, Pelletier, Kuzmenko, etc.. and playing North/South everything from the point perimeter game is just mind boggling stupid.

You seem to have a personal vendetta against Huska, what did he do to get this criticism?

He's coaching the perfect system for the players we have. Look at the predictions at the start of the year, no one picked us to be near a playoff spot with this current roster.

It's not like he is coaching an all star team, the Flames have zero legit first line forwards on the roster. How can you say a coach with no elite talent, who has his team in a playoff spot is doing a bad job?

[Slava]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Goaltending is the reason, not Huska.

Yeah Dan Vladar and that gawdy 3GAA, 890 save percentage and 5 wins. What a luxury to have him there to bail you out.

[Roughneck]

I feel silly for earlier implying that Dave Cameron was over-coaching. He’s basically at the ‘I’ve tried nothing and I’m all out of ideas’ phase.