The Canadian junior team's performance at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships continues to be the talk of the town just days after the Americans were crowned. In the end, Canada placed fifth in the competition and many even questioned the Canadian program.
And if there's anyone well qualified to discuss the topic, it's current Arizona Coyotes head coach André Tourigny.
Tourigny won gold with ÉCJ as assistant coach in 2020 and silver as head coach the following year. He knows how the program works very well and for him there is only one explanation for the disappointing result in 2024.
“It was a testament that the Hockey Canada program was exceptional before the cuts, COVID and the scandals,” Tourigny emphasized Monday during the JiC show on TVA Sports. The U17 and U18 programs and summer camp were cut. We have seen the results.
“This team had no U17 players due to COVID and no U18 summer camp due to budget cuts. The same applies to the World Juniors summer camp this year. The funding was clawed back by Hockey Canada. I have no doubt that things will be okay.”
Tourigny was then annoyed by the comparison with the American model.
“There is a lot of panic,” emphasized Tourigny. The Americans have one player in the National League. He's here in Arizona. Add the seven Canadians to Canada's lineup…Only (Tristan) Luneau would have had an impact.
“[…] Why do you say their program works better than ours? Why do they only have one man in the National League and we have seven? Because their program is better than ours?
“[…] Take away seven players this year. Let's take Cutter Gauthier and Lane Hutson, where will they end up in the tournament?
Tourigny preferred to focus on past successes and the return of funds to fuel his hopes of bringing the Championship Cup back to the country.
“The neighbor’s lawn is always greener. When we look at the good things being done, we have a lot to be proud of.”