World Junior 2015: Canada's 'wake-up call' helps Slovakia return for rematch in semifinal

After Canada embarrassed Slovakia in the opening game of the world junior championship in Montreal last week, the Slovaks held a meeting.

Star forward Martin Reway told the media he was “embarrassed” after the 8-0 loss as a third-year forward. Whatever was said afterwards worked, as the Slovaks rebounded with important victories over defending champions Finland and rival Czech Republic to advance to the semifinal.

“Canada woke us up,” said Slovakian coach Ernest Bokros, through an interpreter. “That was our wake-up call and since then we’re playing well.”

Bokros said playing against Canada, the home team in Montreal, in a building packed with more than 14,000 rabid fans in the Bell Centre left his team starry-eyed. Now he says, they’ve become accustomed to the big arena and loud fans, which is good because facing Canada in the semifinals at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on Sunday will be no different.

“The opener against Canada for most players was the first big game at such a big tournament so we hope that they experienced the atmosphere and everything, “said Bokros. “They are looking forward to play Canada tomorrow.

“I think we moved forward and the players are better every game.”

Canada will start goaltender Zach Fucale against Slovakia. He’s familiar with them having played in the opener where he had a relatively easy night, posting a shutout with 12 saves. The 19-year-old doesn’t expect to see the same team he faced in Montreal.

“The Slovaks always compete and you know they’re coming off a couple wins,” said Fucale. “They have some momentum right now, so we can’t underestimate them right now. They’re in the semifinals so they certainly did something right to be there. They’re going to be ready for us and we just want to make sure we focus on ourselves.”

But just as Slovakia has gained momentum through the tournament, so too, has Canada. On Friday night they thrashed the upstart Danes 8-0 to advance. Their toughest opponent thus far in the tournament was Team USA, which Canada dispatched 5-3. The Americans were then ousted in the quarterfinals by Russia, ruining any chance for a rematch.

“(Slovakia) was the first game of the tournament so we’re a better team than we were,” said Fucale. “And they’re a better team than they were – I’m pretty sure of that. We’ve had a constant progression and we’ve had a great day today we’re getting better for tomorrow already.”

Looking at his roster, Bokros concedes that he’s heavily outgunned in terms of firepower up front. Reway, who played in the QMJHL for Canadian head coach Benoit Groulx in Gatineau, is by far their biggest offensive threat. He leads Slovakia in scoring with four goals and two assists in five games at the tournament.

“We have one Reway,” Bokros told Canadian reporters. “You guys have maybe 10 guys, skill-wise like Reway. You have a more skilled team than we do.”

Bokros, who coached Slovakia at last year’s tournament in Malmo, Sweden, says he’s been impressed by Canada’s game plan. He says, from what he’s seen, it’s Canada’s play around the net – driving hard to create chances – that has separated them from the pack.

“This Canadian team is different and it’s stronger than the last year,” said Bokros. “Even the coaching staff and everything is really well prepared and coached, so it’s going to be tough.

“They try to score on every opportunity they have,” he added.

That means it might make for another long night for goaltender Denis Godla, who has played in every game for the Slovaks. If not for Godla, 19, the Slovaks might have been eliminated by now.

Bokros believes the key to keeping up with Canada is not to show any fear playing against a team many consider favourites for the gold.

“We have to play without respect,” said Bokros. “Like fight as a team. Don’t be intimidated or scared from the beginning of the game.”