Recapping the performances of Calgary Flames at the World Championship
By Nathan Smith
![Andrew Mangiapane Andrew Mangiapane](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4000,h_2250,x_0,y_281/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/117/01hygvvzch9sscej0eqb.jpg)
The 2024 IIHF World Championship has just wrapped up their round robin portion of play, and while there wasn't many Calgary Flames featuring in the tournament, we did see some very impressive performances. In the tournament this year, there were just two current Flames representing their home country, with Andrew Mangiapane representing Team Canada while standout rookie Martin Pospisil played a huge role for Team Slovakia.
While Mangiapane had a down year for the Flames, he looked fantastic in this tournament, tallying a goal and six points through seven games as Canada finished atop Group A with a 5-2-0 record in that time.
Sweet setup by Bowen Byram. Easy job for Andrew Mangiapane.👌 2-0 for Canada.🍁 #MensWorlds #CANNOR @hockeycanada @nhlflames pic.twitter.com/gE0P7qhOOl
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 16, 2024
Mangiapane's standout game came against Switzerland, with the team netting a 3-2 win as No. 88 had an assist on all three goals as Canada handed them their only loss of the round robin bracket.
On the other hand, bruising forward Martin Pospisil only strengthened his case as a key player of the future for Calgary, with impressive performances in all seven games for Slovakia. Unfortunately, Pospisil has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after a brutal collision in the teams final round robin game.
Slovakia’s Martin Pospisil out for IIHF Men’s World Championship due to injury https://t.co/TS17TYsXl7
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) May 22, 2024
In seven games before the injury however, Pospisil excelled while playing at the center position, tallying three goals and four assists in that time while carrying a very impressive +5 differential. As usual, Pospisil kept up with the physical play, and playing on the top line, he became one of the most important pieces on this surprising Slovakia team.
Martin Pospisil makes it 5-1 with a feed from Libor Hudacek. That's Pospisil's second of the day. #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/mQ1xYMXFV9
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) May 12, 2024
These two teams are set to meet in the first playoff game of the tournament, and while Pospisil won't be on the ice for Team Slovakia, his impact was felt throughout the tournament as all eyes now turn to Andrew Mangiapane and Canada's race for a gold medal.