Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Commits Costly Blunder for Canada, Handing Win to Team USA
Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan costs Canada another loss at the World Junior and is now facing backlash for poor outing against Team USA.
It's been a tough tournament for Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan, who is the focal point of tremendous criticism, with many suggesting that he is the sole reason for Canada's loss to the United States.
After Canada gave up the go-ahead goal early in the third period, Cowan delivered a dangerous hit to American forward Aram Minnetian that sent him awkwardly into the boards and earning Cowan a minor penalty for boarding.
Unfortunately for Cowan and Team Canada, the States would score on that power-play and extend their lead.
As Canada looked to force overtime, they pulled Carter George with more than two minutes to play. The States managed to survive an icing and get the puck into Canada's zone where Cowan corralled the loose puck in the corner and threw a blind pass into the middle of the ice where it was scooped up by the States and quickly deposited into the empty net by Ryan Leonard, sealing the win and first place in Group A for the Americans.
This is the second time the 2023 first-round pick has heard it from the critics, with the first being after a failed shootout attempt and a disappointing loss to Latvia.
Cowan addressed the backlash on Monday, stating he knows he can be better. Unfortunately, Cowan had possibly his worst game in two years at the tournament on Tuesday night with many Canadian supporters calling for him to be benched.
It's a shame that grown adults sit behind their keyboards and criticize 17, 18 and 19-year-olds, acting like they could have done better or never made a mistake at their age.
Regardless of what country they play for, at the end of the day, the players in the World Juniors are still just kids and will make mistakes, and shouldn't be ridiculed the way they are online for trying to represent their country.
Hopefully Cowan and Team Canada can rebound from this one as the elimination rounds will now commence.
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