You can list a couple of reasons for Canada’s loss to the U.S. yesterday. Whether it was Cale Makar not playing, Sidney Crosby’s giveaway leading to the States’ second goal, or Canada not getting enough high-quality chances. Or we can just call a spade a spade—the U.S.A.’s goaltending is just better, straight up. The first goal Jordan Binnington gave up should have been saved. That killed a lot of momentum for Canada, because before that, Canada was carrying a lot of the play. That goal by Jake Guentzel gave the U.S. life, and they ended up winning the game. Don’t get me wrong, the U.S. has the best goaltending trio in the tournament by far. Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman are three top-ten goalies in the league. But in a close game, that’s what it comes down to: What goalie makes the big save and which one gives up the bad goal.
This got me thinking about the days Canada would dominate on all ends of the ice, especially in the crease. In years past, Canada has had elite goaltending. In 2016 and 2014, we had Carey Price, whose goals-against average in the 2014 Olympics was 0.60, which is absolutely bonkers. In 2010, we had Roberto Luongo, who was one of the best goalies in the league at the time. In 2002, we had Martin Brodeur, who is arguably the best goalie of all time. So what happened?
Canada’s not producing horrible goalies—Adin Hill, Jordan Binnington, and Logan Thompson aren’t horrible goalies. They just aren’t superstar goalies like we’ve had in years past. I could go into coaching or goaltending development if you really wanted me to. But I think the simple answer is that the rest of the world has simply caught up. The U.S. is producing so much elite talent, Sweden and Finland are as well, and even though they aren’t participating, Russia is still an elite hockey country. Which honestly is a good thing—it means hockey’s growing, and that’s something we all want. But that just means Canada has got to stay on top. As for Canada, they have to win with what they’ve got and roll with Binnington and Hill for the rest of the Four Nations Face-Off.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko has been named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week for the first week of February. The Canucks’ backstop played a key role in victories over the Maple Leafs, Sharks, and Avalanche, posting stellar numbers: one shutout, a 0.46 goals-against average, and a .985 save percentage. Brandon Hagel (TBL) earned First Star honors, while Matthew Tkachuk (FLA) was awarded the Third Star.
While this is an exciting achievement for Demko, Canucks fans find themselves in a state of uncertainty after the star goaltender left Saturday’s game against the Leafs midway through the first period with what appeared to be a lower-body injury. So far, the only concrete update has come from head coach Rick Tocchet, who stated, “I don’t think it’s that serious – I don’t know – from early reports. It’s not the knee, so we don’t have to have you guys speculate. I don’t know, I don’t think it’s that serious, but we’ll see.”
If the injury turns out to be significant, the timing couldn’t be worse. Demko was just beginning to show flashes of his Vezina-caliber form- something both fans and teammates became accustomed to seeing last season- reflected in his Second Star recognition. After returning from a nagging knee injury that sidelined him at the end of the 2024 season, Demko struggled in his first 14 games, posting an .873 save percentage and a 4-6-3 record as the starter.
Demko’s strong start to February coincided with the Canucks’ latest resurgence, as they ride a three-game win streak and a four-game point streak- an impressive feat considering captain Quinn Hughes has been sidelined for the entire stretch with an oblique injury. New additions Filip Chytil, Drew O’Connor, and Marcus Pettersson have provided some previously-lacking speed and stability to the core of the lineup, while rookie Elias Pettersson has surged as an up-and-coming lockdown defender with surprising offensive upside. So far, the results of the J.T. Miller trade have looked solid for the Canucks
Vancouver currently holds a three-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. With less than 30 games remaining, Demko’s return- particularly to this level of play- could be crucial in solidifying a postseason berth for the Canucks. As the league heads into the 4Nations Tournament, the Canucks will get a needed two-week break before their next game against Vegas on February 22nd- precious time both Hughes and Demko can use to get their bodies right before Vancouver makes their final playoff push.
Martin Pierre Brodeur is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey goaltender and current team executive. He played 22 seasons in the National Hockey League. In 2017, he was named by the league as one of the “100 Greatest NHL Players”.
Brodeur is one of five children. His father played hockey in the 1956 Olympics for Team Canada and won bronze. Brodeur started playing hockey as a forward. At the age of seven, his coach asked him if he wanted to try goaltending which, as we all know, he did. In the 1989 to 1990 season, he made it to the Quebec Major Junior League. He played for the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser and made the QMJHL All-Rookie team from 1989 to 1990 and the QMJHL second All-Star team from 1991 to 1992.
He was drafted for the New Jersey Devils in the first round, 20th overall, in the 1990 NHL entry draft. Even though he spent most of his time with the Saint-Hyacinthe, he was called up to the NHL on an emergency basis for about four games when both goaltenders became injured. By the 1993 to 1994 season, he returned to the NHL permanently and gained recognition when he won the Calder Trophy. In the 1994 to 1995 NHL season, he won his first Stanley Cup, his second full season in the NHL.
During the 1995-96 season, he played 74 out of his team’s 82 games setting a single season record for most minutes played by a goaltender. He was named the starter in the All-Star game for the Eastern Conference and he played for Team Canada during the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. In the 1996-97 season, he was named to the All-Star team again. On April 17th, 1997 in the first game of the first round of playoffs, he fired the puck the length of the ice and into the Canadien’s empty net to ensure a 5 to 2 victory. This was only the second time in NHL history that a goaltender has scored in the playoffs and 5th time overall. As always, the following year he once again made the All-Star team and the Devils finished first in the Eastern Conference. In the 98 to 99 season, the Devils finished first in the Eastern Conference for a third straight year and he started in the All-Star game, making his fourth appearance.
During the 1999-2000 season, they had won their second Stanley Cup Championship. The next year he played in the All-Star game for his sixth consecutive season. In the 2002-2003 season, he had finally won the Vezina Trophy for the first time, he also won the Jennings Trophy. In the 2003 to 2004 season, he won his second consecutive Vezina Trophy and Jennings Trophy.
After the 2004-2005 lockout, and before the start of the 2005-2006 season, the league instituted a new rule preventing goaltenders from playing the puck behind the goal line except within a trapezoid-shaped zone located behind the net. Now many thought this was singling out Brodeur who was one of the best at getting behind the net to handle the puck. It has come to be known as the “Brodeur Rule”.
Brodeur signed a contract extension with the Devils on January 27th, 2006. He won his third Vezina Trophy during the 2006-2007 season. On April 5th, 2007, he broke the record for most wins in a single season, 48 wins. In 2012, he signed a 2-year deal to stay with the Devils. He became a free agent for the 2014-15 season and his 21-year tenure with the Devils ended. He had signed a 1-year contract with the St. Louis Blues but, just five games into the season, he announced his retirement.
He did get selected for Team Canada 4 times in 1998 in Nagano, Japan, in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2006 in Turin, Italy and, in 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
After his retirement, the Blues hired him as a Special Assistant to the General Manager. In May 2015, they announced that he and the Blues had agreed on a 3-year contract naming him as an Assistant General Manager of the team. In February 2016, the New Jersey Devils unveiled a bronze statue of him and they retired his #30 Jersey. In July 2017, he was appointed a management team member for Canada’s men’s team for the 2018 Winter Olympics and, in August 2018, he joined the Devils as an Executive Vice President of Business Development. In January 2020, he became the Advisor of Hockey Operations after General Manager Ray Shiro was fired.
In June 2018, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2019, he was awarded the Order of Sports and inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame. He’s gotten many awards and he holds many records to this day.
