“We were exhausted” – Dave Cameron’s EXCUSE for Team Canada’s loss fails to justify reason over several missed practices, fans react
Team Canada’s head coach Dave Cameron gives excuses for the team not attending practice prior to crucial World Juniors semifinals.
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Dave Cameron [Image Credit: The Globe and Mail]
Team Canada has once again failed to qualify for the quarterfinals in the 2025 World Junior for the second consecutive time. All the fingers are pointing towards several issues within the team and on head coach Dave Cameron.
Cameron’s response to whether he has regrets over the team not passing the semifinals has further added salt to the fan’s wounds. They are currently boiling over this casual response of “No” and the reasons he defended the team and himself over failed practices.
The team apparently did not participate in several practice rounds as per reports. They did not see the icy floors after their 4-1 loss against Team USA and have missed three to four morning practices.
Because we were exhausted…there’s no system for tired hockey players.
Dave Cameron as per Cam Robinson on X.
Dave Cameron on why the team didn't practice more,
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) January 3, 2025
"Because we were exhausted…there's no system for tired hockey players."
However, that’s not the only reason for the fans to fume over Dave Cameron. The roster decisions were a critical part of the team’s loss. Cameron did not utilize the roster effectively and their changed positions on ice made things difficult.
One thing everyone can be sure of is Dave Cameron won’t be the head coach for Team Canada for the next season. Whether he and some other officials will get fired is still the question.
Leafs prospect Easton Cowan receives heavy backlash for WJC performance
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan remains one of the targeted players who has received plenty of criticism over his World Junior Championship performance. Many believe this is partly to blame coach Dave Cameron as he assigned him a role he’s not suited for.
Fans did not take well the news of Team Canada losing for a consecutive year against Team Czechia in the quarterfinals. Their anger is directed towards the coach, players, and management for failing to show results at a critical point.
One X user commented, “Hockey is dying in Canada,” while another said, “Dave Cameron actively sabotaging the team.” Check out more fan reactions below:
Hockey is dying in Canada. Fewer and fewer parents can afford to enrol their kid in it, and there are many cheaper options: basketball, soccer, baseball. In Canada, you basically have to be a spoiled rich kid to play hockey.
— R Lincoln (@roblongwriter) January 3, 2025
Dave Cameron actively sabotaging the team #ClownShow pic.twitter.com/ePUKmtBMgs
— Reilly Letterick (@LetterickReilly) January 2, 2025
Looked like a team raised on participation badges, half rink games and no contact hockey! And it showed in high def.
— Kevin Donald (@KevyS024) January 3, 2025
If you fail that badly, have an undisciplined team and you barely adjust during games……you don’t answer this way. Dave was massively unprepared for the tournament this year….must be because he’s coaching the 67s to greatness too. *checks notes* never mind they are not good too
— Matt Young (@mattyoungsports) January 3, 2025
To me this is such a poor response from a coach. It’s felt he was more than happy to blame his players all tournament.
— Kyle (@KD9512) January 3, 2025
The best coaches are always the first ones to say it starts with me and I didn’t do a good enough job putting the players in positions to be successful.
What a loser answer.
— DanJones (@danjones63dan) January 3, 2025
If a coach doesn’t have regrets after a loss they should not be a coach.
What? That's outrageous if true. Dave Cameron seems lost, unable to control his team. Very strange.
— HockeyBusiness (@HockeyBusiness) January 2, 2025
That would never happen with a Sutter-coached team.
Team looked terrible, couldn’t cycle the puck for the life of them. Slot was always empty. Then on top of this less individual talent to overcome positional sloppiness. Recipe for disaster.
— KilconaVC (@KilconaVC) January 3, 2025
Team Canada may have ruined the hockey careers of these players by not picking the best players to compete.
— Frances Auger (Me / Myself / and I) (@fern_60) January 2, 2025
Goaltending was very poor.
— Caleb Matthews (@calebmatthws) January 3, 2025
Penalties killed us the whole tournament.
That final penalty was a back breaker.
But the roster for Canada wrong from the get go.
Wrong mix of players. Too much talent left on sidelines at home.
Amidst the public outrage, Maple Leafs alternate captain John Tavares came forward to defend Easton Cowan. While he didn’t comment on Cameron’s judgment, he backed the rookie saying he’s a good skater and player.
It is yet to see what Team Canada’s next move will be like. There will undoubtedly be changes, but whether those changes work in crucial games like the World Junior Championships is yet to be seen in the future.
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Kaushani Chatterjee
(2137 Articles Published)