I know this news from Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen will disappoint some Wings fans, but it’s what I expected given that Team Canada tends to defer its netminding decisions toward the oldest players on the team–and Dylan Garand is the oldest Team Canada netminder at 19:
Coach Dave Cameron chose Dylan Garand over Detroit Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa for Canada’s opening game against the Czechs at the World Junior Championships (7 p.m., NHL Network).
TSN’s Mark Masters wrote New York Rangers’ prospect Garand “has a real chance to run with the job.”
“Generally, guys don’t get benched for [good] play,” Cameron said. “He’s got the net and he’s going to want to keep it.”
It’s disappointing for Red Wings fans wanting to watch the 6-foot-7 Sebastian Cossa in net for Canada. He was the 15th overall pick in last summer’s draft. Garand was a fourth rounder in 2020.
Defenseman Donovan Sebrango, a Red Wings’ prospect, will play for Canada against the Czechs. Red Wings prospect goalie Jan Bednar may play for the Czechs. They plan to rotate goalies.
Continued; Cossa will still serve as Canada’s back-up, and he’ll gain experience and knowledge while getting in a couple of games on back-to-backs during the “round robin” portion of the tournament.
