Smiling through the pain: Canada's Andrew Gibson loves role as shot blocker at World Juniors

At 6-foot-4, Andrew Gibson is the biggest and perhaps the toughest player on Team Canada.

Published Dec 30, 2024  •  3 minute read

Team Canada defenceman Andrew Gibson defends against Latvia while goaltender Jack Ivankovic looks on during an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship game in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press

While Carter George has two player of the game awards from his pair of appearances in the World Juniors over the last week, he’s also the first to share credit with the unsung heroes on his team.

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Their souvenirs from the tournament are the welts and bruises that come with sticking their body in front of a fast-moving puck.

“I love blocking shots,” said Team Canada defenceman Andrew Gibson, who plays for the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. “That’s probably my favourite thing in hockey right now. So to block them on the big stage and have the crowd behind me feels even better.”

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Even when it comes with the greatest of sacrifices.

“I took one off the private part there in the second period,” said Gibson, chuckling, in reference to Canada’s shutout victory over Germany on Sunday. “So that definitely hurt a little bit. But I bounced right back and I was right back down on one knee blocking more shots. That’s just my game. I’ve grown accustomed to it.

“Yeah, I’ve got a couple of bruises on my body right now, but it’s nothing when I’ve got the adrenalin going with the crowd going.”

At 6-foot-4, Gibson is the biggest and perhaps the toughest player on Team Canada.

He and Tanner Molendyk, who might be considered one of the best-skating players in the NHL if he were already there, form Canada’s shutdown pairing on the blue line.

Their cohesiveness is likely one of the reasons Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz acquired Gibson, a second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2023, in a trade for Finnish prospect Jesse Kiiskinen and a second-round pick earlier this year.

Kalle Kangas of Team Finland grabs hold of defenceman Andrew Gibson of Team Canada during an IIHF World Junior Championship at the Canadian Tire Centre on Dec. 26, 2024 in Ottawa. Gibson took an early stab at being a goalie, but that didn’t work out so well, although he did get the win. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis /Getty Images

Gibson and Molendyk could be working together, wearing Predators colours, in NHL rinks for years to come.

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“That’s the goal,” said Gibson.

The Windsor, Ont., native enjoys stopping scoring chances so much that, at an early point in his life, he wanted to be a goalie.

“I grew up idolizing Roberto Luongo, Tim Thomas, Jonathan Quick, Carey Price … all those guys back in my day,” said Gibson. “I played one game in goal as a kid in house league, when everyone gets the chance. I let in 10 goals against the worst team, but we won 11-10. So I’m 1-0, but my GAA is 10.”

The position switch has worked out well.

Gibson says he’s “still a two-way guy,” but he knows his true value to a team.

It’s also recognized by others.

“There was an OHL coaches poll last year, and I got voted best-shot blocker in the West division,” he said. “So I’ve just been working on that and trying to keep that up.

“I’ve always been known as the shutdown guy, and I don’t mind that at all. I love blocking shots and killing penalties. To know that (Canada) has no 5-on-5 goals against us is a great feeling, and the penalty kill has been really good as well. That’s a testament to our defensive game.”

Gibson and Molendyk will be key players against the U.S. on Tuesday as Canada attempts to keep that shutout streak going.

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“They got a lot of offensive guys and they’re very skilled,” said Gibson. “I think if we play physical against them and play our game, play hard on them and defend really well to shut down their top guys we’re going to come out with a win.”

George has stopped all 56 shots he’s faced in the tournament, but of the six periods he has played, only in one was he particularly busy.

That was the third against Finland when he turned aside 20 pucks.

The other five periods he’s only needed to make an average of seven saves per period.

That’s a testament to Gibson, the rest of the shot blockers and the defensive game Canada hopes leads it to gold.

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