Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada91裸聊视频檚 hotel.

The temperature had been turned way up on the veteran hockey executive and the country91裸聊视频檚 under-20 program after a stunning upset some 12 hours earlier.

91裸聊视频淵ou only want to talk to me when things are bad, eh?91裸聊视频� Anholt joked to reporters Saturday morning.

91裸聊视频淚s that how this works?91裸聊视频�

That is indeed what happens when a powerhouse with a record 20 gold medals expected to roll over an opponent suffers one of its worst all-time defeats at the tournament.

Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia 91裸聊视频� a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings 91裸聊视频� in a shocking shootout Friday.

Coming off a disastrous fifth-place finish last year in Sweden and having talked a lot about upping their compete level and preparation, the Canadians looked disjointed for long stretches against the plucky, hard-working Latvians.

The power play finally clicked late in the third period, but stands at 1-for-7 through two games, while the top line of Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau has yet to translate its pre-tournament chemistry into success in the spotlight.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e certainly trying to problem solve, but not throw the baby out with the bath water,91裸聊视频� said Anholt, who heads the world junior setup. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e got to be really careful.91裸聊视频�

Canada, which picked up a solid 4-0 victory over Finland to open its tournament Thursday, had plenty of offensive zone time and directed 57 shots at Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs. Included in that total, however, were far too many one-and-done efforts from the perimeter with little traffic in front.

There were, of course, desperate spurts 91裸聊视频� especially late in regulation and in 3-on-3 overtime 91裸聊视频� but not nearly enough for a roster peppered with first-round NHL draft picks and top prospects.

91裸聊视频淲e played really, really hard,91裸聊视频� Anholt said in defending his players. 91裸聊视频淲e controlled the puck lots. We created some chances. Their goalie was really good and they defended really good 91裸聊视频� 99 times out of 100 we win that game.91裸聊视频�

Hoping for a big response Sunday against Germany before meeting the United States on New Year91裸聊视频檚 Eve to tie a bow on round-robin action in Group A, Canada will have to push ahead minus one of its best players.

Star defenceman Matthew Schaefer was injured Friday and is done for the tournament after he slammed into Latvia91裸聊视频檚 net and skated off favouring his left shoulder area.

91裸聊视频淭ough blow for the kid,91裸聊视频� Anholt said. 91裸聊视频淭he way he plays the game, he plays it at such a high speed.91裸聊视频�

Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round selection, said Canada remains confident despite Friday91裸聊视频檚 ugly result in the nation91裸聊视频檚 capital.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e good,91裸聊视频� said the 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont. 91裸聊视频淓veryone91裸聊视频檚 lost a hockey game before.91裸聊视频�

But not like that 91裸聊视频� or to that opponent on that stage.

91裸聊视频淏it of a (crappy) feeling,91裸聊视频� said Nadeau, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect from St-Francois-de-Madawaska, N.B. 91裸聊视频淲e all know what this group is capable of. Losing that game is not our standard.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檒l bounce back.91裸聊视频�

Some corners of social media exploded following the Latvian debacle, with heavy criticism directed at head coach Dave Cameron and the team91裸聊视频檚 overall roster construction.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not really worried about it,91裸聊视频� defenceman and Ottawa native Oliver Book, who like Cowan is back from last year91裸聊视频檚 team, said of the outside noise. 91裸聊视频淲e know we didn91裸聊视频檛 play well.91裸聊视频�

Canada appears poised to mix things up against the Germans. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., is set draw in for Schaefer, while Anholt indicated there91裸聊视频檚 a good chance forward Carson Rehkopf will get his first crack at the 2025 tournament as a returnee.

The 19-year-old Seattle Kraken second-round pick from Vaughan, Ont., has scored a combined 78 goals over his last 97 regular-season and playoff games in the Ontario Hockey League.

91裸聊视频淕reat player,91裸聊视频� Cowan said. 91裸聊视频淗e finds ways.91裸聊视频�

Anholt said taking a big-picture approach is key in challenging moments.

91裸聊视频淟et91裸聊视频檚 not panic,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he world hasn91裸聊视频檛 fallen in. It91裸聊视频檚 hard, but we91裸聊视频檒l learn from it.91裸聊视频�

It91裸聊视频檚 something Canada will have to do under intense scrutiny.

91裸聊视频淧eople are gonna love you and people are gonna hate you,91裸聊视频� said Cowan, who has a goal an assist through two games. 91裸聊视频淕otta keep doing you.91裸聊视频�

Anholt, who was also at the helm 12 months ago when Canada never got in gear, isn91裸聊视频檛 getting 2024 vibes from this year91裸聊视频檚 group.

91裸聊视频淣ot even in any way, shape or form,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e just got to take care of business.91裸聊视频�

They get a first shot at redemption Sunday.