If we all play to our strengths, we will be a very hard team to beat, says Josh Anderson

Most of us are now moving on to the biggest speed, conditioning and agility training

Josh, the Ball Hockey World Championship will take place this June in Ostrava. Could you describe what stage of preparation the Canadian team is currently in and what you are focusing on most at this point?

At this point in our preparation, I would say we are focusing on team systems and individual fitness. We have had a few meetings to discuss our special teams, defensive zone, and offensive philosophy. I cannot speak for all of the guys on the team, but I think most of us are moving into more intensive speed, cardio, and agility training to be ready for the intense couple of weeks we will have in Ostrava.

The final roster has already been announced, and there have been several changes compared to the last gold-winning team. How would you describe the current composition of the squad, and what role do you think the new players can play within it?

It is unfortunate that quite a few of the players who helped us win in Laval and Visp aren’t returning this year, but on the bright side, we have a great pool of players to choose from here in Canada, so I think we will be a force once again. We have a lot of size and speed on this team's roster. We have added three new defencemen who are very tall and move extremely well. Up front, we have added a number of guys who will help put the ball in the net and contribute in the defensive zone. A couple of the players we added have played on the junior national team, so they have some experience on the world stage.

What else awaits you in the final phase of preparation before the start of the championship?

Personally, I will be running and stickhandling a lot. I think the keys to my game are a relentless forecheck, winning battles along the boards, and setting up the goalscorers on my line. If I am not in great shape, it makes it hard to be effective in these areas. I also need my stickhandling to be at a level where I am able to execute passes and plays with minimal mistakes. Any turnover or mishandling of the ball can turn games around so quickly. Being confident in my playmaking is key.

As captain, you will lead the team throughout the tournament. What will you focus on most to ensure the team can handle even the most difficult moments?

I think something I want us to focus on is ensuring everyone is fully committed to their role on the team. Everyone brings a different package of skills and physical attributes to the game. We have a team of many different types of players, which I think is a huge strength for us. We have world-class defenders, shooters, playmakers, penalty killers, ball movers, and goalies. If we can all play to our strengths, I think we will be a hard team to beat.

We will try to spoil the Czechs celebrations

Details often make the difference during a tournament. Which game situations do you think the team needs to prepare for most carefully?

I think a lot of the ball hockey games are won and lost on the powerplay and penalty kill. A good powerplay can get you goals and momentum, whereas a lackluster powerplay can completely deflate a team and make it hard to recover from. We need to find a way to capitalize when we have the chance with the man advantage. Good special teams execution will be a huge key to our success in this coming World Championships.

The final of the last World Championship in 2024 against the Czech Republic was decided in overtime. What do you think played a key role in your favor at that time?

A big factor in our success in the game against the Czech Republic in Visp was our ability to push the pace throughout the whole game. Even in double overtime we were putting pressure on and covering our assignments effectively. Our goalie, defensemen and forwards were all still playing as if it was the first period of the game. As a team we stress conditioning and preparation before the tournament so that when we get into situations like the double overtime final we are still able to bring our best game to the table.

Canada will be fighting for a golden hattrick this year. How strongly do you feel about this theme within the team?

It's a really cool opportunity for us to try and complete the golden hat trick this year. We have seven guys who were on the team when we won in Laval, so it's huge to have those veterans in the room to help keep us focused on the goal at hand. Like past world championships, every team is going to be good, so we will have our work cut out for us.

The Czech Republic will be playing on home soil this year. In your opinion, what could be their biggest advantage in Ostrava?

I personally have never played in the Czech Republic. From what I have heard from Masters and junior Team Canada players, it is an amazing experience. Even in Visp, they had a huge and loud fan base that was hard to ignore. I think it’s going to be a great advantage for their team, but we hope to spoil their party this year.

Team Canada during celebration of gold medals in Visp 2024. Photo credit: Jan Havel.