Garand brings 'extreme focus' to Team Canada's net

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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Team Canada's scratches skated at the Downtown Community Arena on Thursday. 

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Dylan Garand is looking for a better start to the summer World Juniors. 

"It didn't go the way I wanted it to on Boxing Day, but it was a good experience to have that under my belt," the Kamloops Blazers goalie said. "Now, coming back, I've played my first game, so there's nothing new here for me."

Czechia built a 3-1 lead over Canada in the first period back on Dec. 26.  

"They scored three quick ones, and it was kind of a little frantic for me," Garand recalled. 

Coach Dave Cameron called timeout to settle the team down after the third goal.

"I remember thinking to myself to relax a bit and stick to my game," Garand said. "Just because I've been scored on, I'm not going to change anything or do anything different. Just stick to the process and when I do that it gives me confidence."

Garand shut the door the rest of the way as Canada stormed back to win 6-3.

Garand, who will make his second career World Junior start on Thursday, has turned being routine-oriented into an art form. 

"He has his set times where he likes to stretch," said centre Logan Stankoven, who plays with Garand in Kamloops. "He has everything planned and it's always at certain times. That's big for him, just his key times when he has to do certain things. It always has to be at the certain times."

Garand appears to be eccentric even by goalie standards. 

"Extreme focus," said Everett defenceman Olen Zellweger. "It starts way before you're even at the rink. I've seen him in the meal room here looking at the floor and doing [visualization]." 

"There's one story that's pretty funny," said Halifax forward Elliot Desnoyers. "This winter