SASKATOON - The trap Canada doesn't want to be caught in at the world junior hockey championship is not only the one that Switzerland is likely to set for it in the neutral zone when they meet at the Credit Union Centre on Monday.
A greater danger is in becoming complacent from easy victories, like the 16-0 win with which Canada opened the tournament against Latvia.
"We know that was just one game and we have to continue to play hard," coach Willie Desjardins said Sunday after putting his squad, minus star left-winger Taylor Hall, through a short but energetic workout. "That's one reason we kept playing that way (against Latvia) -- because we know the games will get tougher."
The Swiss have been known to steal games with goaltending and defence at world championships and Olympics. And while their junior team is just back after being relegated to the B-pool for a year, they promise tougher opposition than lowly Latvia.
Hall sat out for what he called a "maintenance day" to rest a sore leg but said he will be ready to go for round-robin games on consecutive days against Switzerland and Slovakia.
Like his teammates, Hall was still a little stunned by the one-sided win. Canada led 3-0 only five minutes in, 5-0 after the first period, and 11-0 after two. Grinding winger Gabriel Bourque came out of it leading the tournament with three goals and four assists.
Hall, 18, held to two assists, could not recall beating a team that badly at any level of hockey.
"Those are tough games," he said. "I can't remember the last time I was involved in a game like that, but you have to keep playing hard and not get into bad habits.
"You don't want to run up the score, but at the same time you want to keep going hard and set yourself up for games in the future."
At last year's tournament in Ottawa, Canada opened with an 8-1 win over the Czech Republic, then trounced Kazakhstan 15-0. But after going 4-0 in the preliminary round, the Canadians were nearly eliminated in the semifinals by Russia.
Only Jordan Eberle's goal in the dying seconds of regulation time saved the day as Canada won 6-5 and went on to a fifth straight gold medal, beating Sweden 5-1 in the final.
Canada's lopsided win sparked discussion over whether the world juniors should have a mercy rule -- to stop the game if a team goes ahead, say, 7-0 or 8-0. As it is, teams are encouraged to pile up goals because if two teams are tied at the end of the preliminary round, their placings are decided first by the head-to-head result between the two squads, then overall goal differential.
But while Canada was the heavy favourite against Latvia, no one expected quite a blowout. Only days earlier, Latvia had beaten Russia 3-2 in a pre-tournament game in Swift Current, Sask.
Against Canada, a goal went in only 36 seconds into the game, then came two quick power-play goals and the rout was on.
"I probably agree with that mercy rule, but I guess it just wasn't Latvia's day and we kind of took advantage of it," Canada's Nazem Kadri said.
Added Hall: "They beat Russia in exhibition, so it's not like they don't deserve to be here. 'I thought we played really well, and sometimes the other countries may be a bit intimidated by us.
"At the end of the day, we beat them pretty badly, but hopefully they keep improving and in future years they come back with stronger teams."
Bourque's line with centre Patrice Cormier and Calgary Hitmen sniper Brandon Kozun were the offensive guns against Latvia. But as the tournament progresses, Hall's trio with his Windsor Spitfires teammate Greg Nemisz and London Knights centre Kadri is expected to be an offensive engine along with the Eberle, Brayden Schenn, Brandon McMillan line.
Kadri had two goals, while Nemisz was alone among 13 forwards on the team not to register a point in the game, for which he took some kidding.
"I think I might actually have got one (an assist that wasn't counted by the official scorer), but it doesn't matter in our room -- we're just having fun," said Nemisz.
At a tryout camp two weeks ago in Regina, Hall and Nemisz were with centre Adam Henrique on a all-Spitfires line. But Henrique has been moved to a checking line with Stefan Della-Rovere and Jordan Caron.
Hall and Nemisz bring speed and playmaking skill, while the six-foot-two Nemisz, a Calgary Flames draft pick, digs pucks out of the corner and crowds the front of the net.
"It's kind of sad to see I'm not playing with Henrique anymore on the Windsor line, but Kadri is a guy with a lot of skill," Hall said of the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect. "He's very good with the puck.
"We hooked up on a couple of goals and that was a lot of fun. And Greg adds a lot of toughness and size to our line."
Kadri said he is adjusting to his linemates.
"They're looking for trailers coming into the offensive zone and I've taken advantage of that," he sad. "If I'm ever the late guy coming into the zone, I can't give up on the play because sooner or later, I'll get the puck."
It is Hall who carries the pressure of being the favourite to be picked first overall in the NHL draft in June. But Kadri knows about expectations as well being a top-10 pick last June and playing under the microscope of Toronto fans and media.
Hall was a late cut from last year's world junior squad, but came back bigger, stronger and wiser.
"There's tons of pressure, a lot of spotlight, and there's rumours going around about where you're going to go," said Kadri. "Things can get inside your head and that's why I always wanted to stay away from all the postings last year.
"But Hallsy's handling it well. He's matured a lot as a player. Being cut probably taught him a lot."
Hall shrugs at the suggestion of pressure.
"This world juniors is a big step for me, but you can't worry too much about that," said the son of former CFL receiver and national team bobsledder Steve Hall. "You hear that a lot from draft-eligible guys, but it's true that you can't worry about what the scouts are saying. You just have to try to help your team win and be focused on that."
Desjardins did not say whether Jake Allen will start a second game in goal or if Martin Jones will play.
