Imperial, Sask. goaltender Connor Ingram set to start for Team Canada

A small town in Saskatchewan will turn its full attention to the 2017 World Juniors hockey tournament Tuesday, as one of their own gets the start in net.

Connor Ingram hails from Imperial, a town of about 350 people, and is the province’s only player on Team Canada this year.

After not playing in Canada’s first game, a five to three victory over Russia, Connor was announced as the starter for Tuesday’s game against Slovakia.

His father Brent Ingram traveled with the rest of his family, and others from Imperial, to the tournament to watch Connor.

“He’s got his own cheering section when we get our family people together in the family section of the Team Canada event here,” Brent said. “It’s been really exciting.”

Brent said he’s more excited than nervous for Connor, and he’s been impressed with the sheer size of the event.

“We get 50 or 60 people out at the senior games in our town so when you walk into the rink and have to look up that high to see who’s at the top section of the rink, it’s a little different,” Brent said. “The noise level’s a little different in that rink than it is in Imperial, that’s for sure.”

Canada plays Slovakia at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

You can listen to the game live on 980 CJME and 650 CKOM.