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Ron Wilson blasts TSN for putting pressure on Team Canada

Daniel Nugent-Bowman
AMHERST, MA - DECEMBER 18: Ron Wilson head coach of the USA National Junior Team stands behind the bench during NCAA hockey action against the Massachusetts Minutemen at the Mullins Center on December 18, 2015 in Amherst, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
AMHERST, MA - DECEMBER 18: Ron Wilson head coach of the USA National Junior Team stands behind the bench during NCAA hockey action against the Massachusetts Minutemen at the Mullins Center on December 18, 2015 in Amherst, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)

Count on Ron Wilson to turn up the temperature on a cauldron that’s about to boil over.

With Team Canada licking their wounds after losing their first World Junior Championship opener since the 1998 affair, Wilson opted to criticize TSN for its promotion of the event.

While the intentions of the Canadian-born, American-coach may have been to simmer the situation, he surely added some flames to the fire.

“TSN has created this unconscionable amount of pressure on these young guys,” Wilson told the Toronto Star’s Kevin McGran after the 4-2 U.S. victory. “The Canadian guys have to be squeezing their sticks today because of all the pressure that TSN puts on them.

Supporters of Team Canada cheer during the 2016 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championship match between USA and Canada in Helsinki, Finland, December 26, 2015. Team USA won Canada 4-2. REUTERS/Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. FINLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN FINLAND.

"They're expected to win. Here, they've lost their first game and the world's ready to end. I'm always saying make sure the flags are always flying at half-staff in Canada. That's what we (Americans) did. The flags in Canada are flying at half-staff."

Wilson’s comments are a little odd considering, as McGran points out, the former NHL coach has been employed by TSN as an analyst. But in one sense, Wilson’s critiques are certainly justified.

The world juniors are a ratings bonanza for TSN, the longtime rights holder of the tournament in Canada. Team Canada’s second of three pre-tournament games last Sunday against the Czech Republic was seventh on the list of most-watched sporting events last weekend.

Canadians love the tournament. It takes place during the holidays when many people are enjoying the holiday season and the sports calendar is quieter than usual.

Plus, rosters are stacked with players who have realistic NHL aspirations. Some are projected stars. Given that those players are still in their teenaged years, there has been a longstanding debate about how much criticism is warranted for poor results.

When it comes to Wilson, it must also be noted that he has never been a fan of building a narrative in haste or jumping to any conclusions. While coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Wilson wanted to dissuade members of the media from reporting anything too positive about James Reimer in the goaltender’s salad days with the organization.

Perhaps if Wilson had his druthers, no one would say anything until the medals were handed out.

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