After it was announced yesterday that James van Riemsdyk and Jakub Voracek are doing the same, Philadelphia Flyers’ general manager Chuck Fletcher announced today that goaltender Carter Hart will represent Team Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Championship. He’s represented Canada on the international level before, but each time before was at the World Junior Championships. Fletcher also stated that center Sean Couturier is probably going to the World Championship as well, but he didn’t confirm that fact.
Carter Hart will go to World Championships for Hockey Canada, Chuck Fletcher said.
— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) April 8, 2019
He was a member of Team Canada’s WJC rosters in both 2017 and 2018. After he posted a .906 save percentage and 2.38 goals against average in four games splitting time with Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Connor Ingram to help Canada win silver in 2017 (Rock, Flag, and Eagle baby), Hart had a .930 save percentage and 1.81 GAA in six games during last year’s WJC to help his home country win gold. He also helped Canada to survive a first period surge from Sweden in the gold medal game before they grabbed a 2-1 lead with 1:40 left in regulation and ultimately won 3-1.
Hart had a pretty phenomenal rookie season. He went 16-13-1 while being handed 30 starts in 31 appearances posting a .917 save percentage and 2.83 GAA. Hart was also named the NHL rookie of the month for January and joined Jocelyn Thibault as the only goalies in league history to hit a personal winning streak of eight games before the age of 21. He also made a few okay saves along the way, such as: this one, this stop, and these robberies.
Team Canada hasn’t announced it’s entire roster for the World Championship yet, so it’s not certain what Hart’s workload will look like at the tournament.
