<p>OTTAWA – The World Junior Championship continues to find ways to make a teenage goaltender a national star. And right now, it’s “Georgie! Georgie!”</p>



<p>All eyes are on Carter George. The <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/los-angeles-kings/line-combinations">Los Angeles Kings</a> prospect hasn’t allowed a goal in two starts for Canada at the 2025 World Junior Championship. Yet, there’s so much to be worried about if you’re a Canadian hockey fan.</p>



<p>Not because of George, though. He has been the top goaltender throughout the group stage, stopping all 56 shots sent his way against Finland and Germany. He even attempted a goalie goal, something he successfully pulled off with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack earlier in the year.</p>



<p>However, Canada’s struggles in Ottawa have been well-documented. They lost 3-2 in the shootout to Latvia and the 3-0 win against Germany on Sunday was far from inspiring. Canada scored one on the power play, one off a fluky bounce off the back boards and another on an empty net. Suddenly, a team clad with high-end CHL producers is having an issue putting pucks in the net.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="178"></div>



<p>While Canada was struggling to connect on passes or generate anything relevant, George stood tall. </p>



<p>Between George and 17-year-old Jack Ivankovic, Canada has needed their goaltending to bail them out more than ever. That’s not a position this country is used to. But George is delivering. It’s Deja Vu for those who watched him win gold at the U-18 World Championship in May. He deservedly took home top goalie honors.</p>



<p>“It’s the best feeling in the world knowing that you’ve got probably the best goalie in this tournament, hands down,” Oliver Bonk told the media on Sunday. “It’s a really good feeling when you do mess up, he’s got your back.”</p>



<p>On paper, George’s numbers in the OHL aren’t great. He has a 4-13-5 record and a .905 save percentage. But anyone who follows the OHL knows that he’s been absolutely lights out. Considered by many to be the top goalie on the trade market this year, he’s an absolute gamer.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="162"></div>



<p>“Owen Sound wouldn’t have won a game this year without his heroics,” one scout said.</p>



<p>George has benefited from shot volume, and while he hasn’t had to be as busy with Canada’s tight defense, nothing seems to faze him. He has routinely faced more than 40 shots a game, so he’ll be prepared when the Americans come hunting on Tuesday.</p>



<p>“I don’t like playing against him,” <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs </a>prospect and London Knights forward Easton Cowan said earlier in the tournament. “He’s just an elite goaltender.”</p>



<p>Canada’s biggest challenge is ahead: the United States on New Year’s Eve. The Americans have had their own struggles in Ottawa, having lost 4-3 to Finland on Sunday. They beat Latvia 5-1, but it was hardly a big-time effort: Latvia had just played the night before and was outshot for more than half the contest. George made 31 saves in a 6-4 win over the United States at the U-18s last year, and while the goal count was quite high, he was downright dominant near the end as Canada completed a comeback effort.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="179"></div>



<p>“He’s conditioned so well,” a scout said at the U-18s in May. “He’s athletic, and that helps later in games. And the mental strength is top-notch, giving him more to work with. George doesn’t let a bad goal slow him down.”</p>



<p>It’s only going to get harder from here. If Canada’s offense continues to remain dry, George is going to be even busier as the games start to heat up. Everything from here on out is must-win hockey.</p>



<p>And if all goes well, we could – and should – see George back for another year. The 18-year-old is a 2006-born goaltender, meaning he’s eligible to return to Canada’s crease in Minnesota next December. The last Canadian goaltender to go back-to-back as the starter was Carter Hart in 2017 and 2018, where he took home a silver and a gold.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="139"></div>



<p>George has won gold at both events he has played in, so he knows what it takes to shine on the world stage. Canada needs to treat Tuesday like it’s the gold medal game – and heaven knows Canada needs a win tonight to loosen the tension around that group right now. </p>



<p>George needs to continue being the team’s MVP if Canada is going to win gold. That’s a dangerous spot to be in – when was the last time Canada needed their goalie to be this good to beat perceived bottom-feeders? But if there’s one player everyone on the Canadian team has their full confidence in, it’s George.</p>



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