Cowan Under Fire: Leafs Prospect Faces Backlash for Shootout Attempt in Canada’s Stunning Loss

Latvia stunned Team Canada at the World Junior Championship with a shootout win that saw Leafs prospect Easton Cowan have one of the most awkward shootout attempts.

Team Canada was upset by Latvia on Friday after the latter scored two power-play goals late in the third period to force overtime on Friday, before shocking the hockey world and defeating the heavily favoured team in front of their home crowd 3-2 in a lengthy shootout.

Canada failed to score on eight attempts, one of which was by Easton Cowan on a play that left many watching with a sour taste in their mouths and scratching their heads, completely puzzled.

In the fourth round, Cowan started very wide and appeared to be following Evgeni Kuznetsov’s controversial tactic before cutting back towards the net, faking a shot twice and then attempting to score five-hole. Unfortunately for Cowan and Canada, Latvia’s goaltender Linards Feldbergs didn’t bite on any of Cowan’s fakes and made the save with ease.

While Cowan’s attempt wasn’t the worst shootout attempt we have seen, the 19-year-old took a lot of unnecessary heat on social media for the failed attempt.

‘Easton Cowan’s shootout looks like me in NHL 14,’ wrote one ‘X’ user.

‘I just wanna know what Easton Cowan was doing on that shot..,’ wrote another.

A third ‘X’ user called Cowan’s failed attempt ‘so embarrassing.’

Being a Leafs prospect, Cowan is watched much closer than many, but the backlash he is receiving for being one of eight Canadian shooters that failed to score seems unnecessary and ridiculous.

Canadians are passionate about the World Juniors, but many forget that the players representing Canada, and every team for that matter, are still kids and still learning how to perform in pressure situations.

Yes, Latvia beating Canada is about as big of an upset as you can think of, but that’s what makes the World Juniors entertaining. All of the players play their hearts out for their countries, with this tournament being the highlight of many of their careers.

Cowan and Team Canada will have the day off Saturday to regroup before taking on Germany on Monday before they take on the United States in what should be another New Years Eve classic.