Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Despite demotion, Babcock said Kunitz ‘did real good where he was’

Sochi Olympics Ice Hockey Men

Austria forward Raphael Herburger checks Canada forward Chris Kunitz in the second period of a men’s ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Mark Humphrey

There’s been plenty of discussion about Chris Kunitz’s role on Team Canada. After all, he was seemingly picked to team up with captain Sidney Crosby and their chemistry was to pay off against the world.

That hasn’t happened as of yet and in Canada’s 2-1 overtime win against Finland, Kunitz was moved to the fourth line and could be in line to be scratched in the quarterfinals. Despite all of that, coach Mike Babcock was OK with Kunitz as Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review shares.

“I think Kunitz did real good where he was,” Canada coach Mike Babcock said, referring to the first two games. “But to me, this wasn’t about Kunitz. It was about our overall team and just trying to find things that work.”

So far what’s been working for Canada is the goaltending as well as Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty. The rest of the superstar talent on the Canadian roster is waiting to break out, including Crosby, and that’s become a point of contention for fans.

Canada will face either Switzerland or Latvia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Follow @JoeYerdonPHT