Three Powell River Kings, forward Evan Richardson, defenceman Luke Ripley and goaltender Jonah Imoo, recently returned from the World Junior A Championship (WJAC) with a silver medal and mixed emotions.
All three Kings played big roles for Canada but perhaps goaltender Jonah had the most impact on the team.
“He’s the number one guy here [Powell River] and has dealt with the pressure,” said Richardson. “There, he was amped up just that much more and it was pretty impressive to see how well he played in those situations.”
Jonah posted a tournament record two shutouts, was named Player of the Day twice and received the tournament’s top goaltender award.
From the battle for the starting job against six of the best goalies in the west all the way through to the final the young goaltender exuded confidence and skill.
“There’s no point in going to any camp thinking you’re not going to make the team,” he said. “There’s no point in being there. I have faith in myself and it all worked out.”
Asked to comment on one highlight of many special moments he said, “I can’t really pick out one thing because the whole tournament was so unreal and the biggest thing I’ve ever done. Just playing other countries and the best players from those countries, and the thought of that, is just surreal.”
From tournament opener all the way through to the final, he handled the pressure but before the final admitted to creeping thoughts about the moment.
“The first game was the biggest game of my life,” Jonah said, “but that [final] game was the most nerve-wracking. I tried to think of it as just another game but when the word ‘gold’ popped into my mind it just kind of amped up the butterflies.”
It shouldn’t be too surprising that he handled it though, because his father Dusty Imoo, a former pro and now goaltender coach at the highest level, also represented Canada in goal.
Naturally, he is bursting with pride at his son’s success but humbly said, “I’ve been telling people quietly to let Jonah’s actions speak for themselves but I did tell my close buddies that at every level he goes to he seems to elevate his game. He’s always been unknown,” added Dusty, “but if you’re good enough I said the cream always rises to the top eventually.”
Jonah obviously has the skills but Dusty said that’s only part of a complete goaltender. “One thing it took years for me to figure out that he just seems to have is a calmness about him that makes him unflappable. That goes a long way because once you go to the next level and the next level pressure starts to get to these kids…this is what starts to wean guys out.”
Those are his goalie coach thoughts, but on a dad level he said, “For my wife and I it’s just a whole other level of happy for him. I get chills just thinking about it and as a dad it’s pretty cool.”
Richardson was committed to Boston College before the tournament. Ripley announced his commitment to Notre Dame last week and the drums have been beating for Jonah since the tournament in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
“I got a phone call right after the tournament from Baie-Comeau of the Quebec Major Junior League,” Dusty said. “They have been on me vigilantly for the past week and I spoke with Jonah and guys like Billy Ranford and Kirk McLean. Everyone’s got their 10 cents worth, but you know what Jonah said? Jonah said he gave his word to Kent [Lewis] and he couldn’t see leaving his teammates.”
During the tournament their team, Canada West, beat the Czechs 7-0, the Russians 4-3 in overtime and Canada East 1-0 to earn a bye into the gold-medal game.
They lost to the Americans in the final 6-3 and each of them had a predictable one-word answer on the outcome. Ripley said, “bittersweet” while both Richardson and Jonah said, “heartbreaking.”
The Canadian jersey and a silver medal, however, are souvenirs of an experience dreamed about by every young hockey player in the country.
Ripley’s first experience with the national hockey program was an eye-opener.
“The Hockey Canada facility in Calgary was amazing,” he said of the camp. “It was nice to just take a step back in the room, take a deep breath and take in the moment. It was one of the best hockey moments I’ve had,” he added. “When I lined up for the game I just couldn’t take the smile off my face.”
Apparently that feeling never gets old.
“I don’t think putting on the Canadian jersey would get old,” said second-year vet Richardson. “It’s a pretty prestigious honour and it’s fun to represent Canada. You’ve got to go in with the mindset that you’re going to win and that’s what we tried to do.”
Of the final he said, “We knew going in they were going to be a tough matchup because they were skilled and at the end of the day they beat us.”
