SASKATOON - If Martin Jones was a little frosty from riding the bench for two games, he didn't show it Tuesday night.
After watching Jake Allen man the crease in the Canada's first two games against Switzerland and Latvia at the world junior hockey championship, Jones received the nod from head coach Willie Desjardins in Canada's 8-2 win over Slovakia.
"It was a lot of fun," said Jones, who stopped 25-of-27 shots. "When you suit up for Team Canada it's something you can't explain. You know it's something you dream of as a kid. I got to play tonight so it's a dream come true."
Canada has been tight-lipped throughout the tournament about their starting goaltenders. Desjardins makes his decisions on a day-to-day basis.
Despite Allen's success in the previous two games -- both shutouts -- Desjardins stated that he wanted each goaltender to get an opportunity and to make sure both are fresh for any scenario.
"I definitely wanted to get a game in," said Jones. "It would have been pretty disappointing not to.
"Yet, we have to do whatever it takes to win a gold medal."
After Allen's successive shutouts, Canada was approaching the tournament record for longest time without allowing a goal. Russia, who held teams scoreless for 215 minutes and nine seconds in 1999, holds the record.
Slovakia's Richard Panik broke Canada's streak at 157 minutes 25 seconds when he scored at 17:25 of the second period.
"It's definitely team defence that did it," said Jones. "The shots against us have been from the outside. We've done a great job of giving up our bodies and getting into shooting lanes and things like that.
