Ingram gets the call for Canada on final day of pool play

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
December 31, 2016

The traditional New Year’s Eve game between the U.S. and Canada at the World Junior Championships tends to be emotional and entertaining.

This year’s version was no different, and with the top spot in Group B up for grabs, there was plenty on the line for both teams, including Canada’s unbeaten streak on New Year’s Eve against the Americans at seven games.

And for Lightning fans, there was strong interest in the game with 2016 draft pick Connor Ingram getting the call in net for Canada.

The United States went on to with the game 3-1 to take the top spot in Pool B and move on to the medal round, which begins on Monday

Ingram, making his second start of the tournament after a six-save shutout against Slovakia, finished the game with 17 saves, as the U.S. scored a pair of power play goals in the first period and never trailed in the game. Canada moves on to the medal round, though who starts in goal remains up in the air as Carter Hart started two of the opening three games.

Mitchell Stephens, Tampa Bay’s first pick in the 2015 draft, missed his second consecutive game for Canada with an ankle injury but is expected to return to the lineup for the medal round.

The remaining group of Lightning prospects representing Canada had a relatively quiet afternoon

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Taylor Raddysh, who scored four goals and had five points in Thursday’s rout of Latvia, did not record a point or a shot on goal in 18:12 of ice time. He picked up a slashing call in the final seconds of the game as emotions started to percolate.

Mathieu Joseph, who has the most goals this season of any player on Canada’s roster with 25 for St. John’s, registered two shots on goal in 12:27 of ice time. Anthony Cirelli logged 13:49 of ice time.

Full game highlights from IIHF

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