SATURDAY SPORTS: CANADA LOSES, CHUCKY RETIRES

GOTHENBURG, Sweden – Alan Letang has seen Canada respond from adversity in the past.

The country lost its opener 5-2 to Czechia at last year’s world junior hockey championship on home soil before bouncing back to win a second consecutive gold medal.

Letang was an assistant on that coaching staff. Now in the big chair, he’ll have to draw on that experience to get this iteration back on track.

Hugo Havelid made 21 saves Friday in Sweden’s 2-0 victory over Canada in a game where the North Americans never really got going after a decent first period.

“If we thought we weren’t gonna get challenged in this tournament, and we weren’t going to face this adversity, we’d be pretty naive,” Letang said. “The belief hasn’t changed. It’s not wavering.”

He also indicated another gear is required from some of his players.

“They’ve got to look at themselves and think if they’ve given enough,” Letang added.

Unlike the 2023 event in Halifax, however, Canada doesn’t have the game-breaking skill of Connor Bedard or a host of other eligible NHLers unavailable at this under-20 showcase when things go sideways.

“We played too much individual, too much skill,” said Canadian goaltender Mathis Rousseau, who did his part with 22 saves, including one that impressed Hall of Fame netminder Henrik Lundqvist from the stands. “A lot of problems getting inside because the guys were just trying to go one-on-one versus everybody.”

Tom Willander and Noah Ostlund scored for Sweden, which clinched top spot in Group A with a third consecutive shutout inside a raucous Scandinavium arena. Theo Lindstein had two assists.

Canada is second in the pool with six points from its three games.

UP NEXT

Canada meets Germany in its final round-robin game Sunday, while Sweden takes on Finland.

(Canadian Press)

CFL

Veteran CFL defensive lineman Charleston Hughes announced his retirement via Twitter Friday evening. The 40-year old from Saginaw, MI spent 15 seasons in the CFL, winning two Grey Cups, but did not play in 2023. He suited up with Calgary, Saskatchewan and Toronto during his career, on the way to being the CFL’s fifth-leading career sack leader with 136.

Meanwhile the New England Patriots worked out running back Tyreik McAllister, wide receiver Samuel Emilus, linebackers Gary Johnson and Josh Woods, along with defensive back Carthell Flowers-Lloyd, as shared by ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

NHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs have dropped back-to-back games after Johnny Gaudreau scored in overtime for the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 6-5 decision. Adam Fantilli had the game-tying goal for the Blue Jackets in the third period. William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner each had a goal and an assist for Toronto.

Elsewhere in the NHL:

New Jersey 6 Ottawa 2

Florida 4 N.Y. Rangers 3

Detroit 5 Nashville 4 (OT)

N.Y. Islanders 5 Washington 1

Colorado 2 St. Louis 1

Dallas 5 Chicago 4 (OT)

Seattle 2 Philadelphia 1 (OT)

Arizona 2 Anaheim 0

WHL

WARRIORS 5 PATS 2

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Brayden Schuurman struck twice as the Warriors bested Regina 5-2 Friday evening.

Kalem Parker, Atley Calvert and Ethan Semeniuk chipped in for Moose Jaw (19-14-2).

Borya Valis and Zane Rowan found the back of the net for the Pats (13-17-5).

Elsewhere in the WHL on Friday:

HURRICANES 2 REBELS 1

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Logan McCutcheon had the shootout winner as the Lethbridge Hurricanes defeated the Red Deer Rebels 2-1 on Friday in Western Hockey League action.

Kooper Gizowski scored in regulation time for Lethbridge (16-15-3), while goaltender Harrison Meneghin stopped 33 shots and turned aside 5-of-7 skaters in the shootout.

Kalan Lind had a regulation-time goal for Red Deer (17-13-4), as Chase Wutzke kicked out 30 of 31 shots.

Neither team could score on the power play. The Hurricanes went 0 for 3 and the Rebels were 0 for 4.

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WHEAT KINGS 3 BLADES 2

BRANDON, Man. – Caleb Hadland scored in the seventh round of the shootout to lift the Wheat Kings over Saskatoon.

Jayden Wiens and Luke Shipley scored in regulation time for Brandon (18-12-5).

Trevor Wong and Easton Armstrong supplied the offence as the Blades (24-8-3) kept their 12-game point streak alive.

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ROCKETS 6 BLAZERS 4

KELOWNA, B.C. – Marek Rocak scored a goal and an assist as Kelowna Rockets defeated Kamloops Blazers.

Tij Iginla, Gabriel Szturc, Kayden Longley, Ethan Mittelsteadt and John Babcock rounded out the attack for Kelowna (16-16-2).

Dylan Sydor had a hat trick for Kamloops (9-21-5) and Ashton Tait added a goal.

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OIL KINGS 5 GIANTS 3

LANGLEY, B.C. – Matthew Gallant scored a goal and an assist as Edmonton downed Vancouver.

Ty Nash, Marshall Finnie, Gracyn Sawchyn and Marc Lajoie all scored for the Oil Kings (11-20-1).

Cameron Schmidt, Aaron Obobaifo and Tyler Thorpe replied for the Giants (13-20-2).

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BRONCOS 3 TIGERS 1

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – Caleb Wyrostok had a hat trick as Swift Current (18-14-3) dispatched the Tigers.

Hunter St. Martin replied for Medicine Hat (22-10-2).

COLLEGE BOWL ROUND-UP

COTTON BOWL

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – All-America running back Cody Schrader rushed for 128 yards and bulled into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter with Missouri’s first score, and the ninth-ranked Tigers capped an 11-win season with a 14-3 win over No. 7 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.

SUN BOWL

NO. 15 NOTRE DAME 40, NO. 21 OREGON STATE 8

EL PASO, Texas (AP) – Steve Angeli passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns, guiding Notre Dame past Oregon State in the Sun Bowl.

GATOR BOWL

CLEMSON 38, KENTUCKY 35

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Phil Mafah ran for four touchdowns, including a 3-yarder with 17 seconds to play, and Clemson beat Kentucky to close the season on a five-game winning streak.

LIBERTY BOWL

MEMPHIS 36, IOWA STATE 26

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Seth Henigan threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns and the Memphis defense shut down Iowa State’s rushing game to win the Liberty Bowl.

(Associated Press)