Could undrafted goaltender Mathis Rousseau be Canada’s answer in net?

Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

Mathis Rousseau has heard it all.

Just like Devon Levi before him, Rousseau knows a thing or two about being a shorter goaltender. The 19-year-old from Boisbriand, Quebec stands at just 5-foot-11, but he hasn’t prevented Rousseau from aiming high.

Rousseau had never represented Canada in any form, but was one of four goaltenders in the summer meetings. Scott Ratzlaff, a Buffalo Sabres prospect, was the only other one to make the roster after Domenic DiVincentiis was cut from selection camp in Oakville earlier this month. Vancouver Canucks draft pick Ty Young wasn’t invited.

“When I got invited for summer camp, it was like, ‘OK, I have a chance to make the big tournament,'” Rousseau said. “I wanted to prove that this season with my performance. And I think I did that so far.”

And that he has. Through 21 games with the Halifax Mooseheads, Rousseau leads the QMJHL with a 16-3-2 record, three shutouts and a .934 save percentage. He’s been one of the top goaltenders in major junior for two years now, going 36-7-2 with Halifax with four shutouts during the 2022-23 regular season.

After the second selection camp game against USports in Oakville earlier this month, Rousseau was specifically singled out as a standout by coach Alan Letang. A few hours later, he was getting everything ready for his trip to Sweden.

Rousseau stopped every shot sent his way in his first pretournament game against Denmark – albeit, just six chances in 30 minutes. He allowed three goals against Switzerland, but still snagged the win.

It’s worth noting that he’ll be the only goaltender with a full game played by the start of the real event, which makes the starter’s gig more interesting. If they’re looking for pedigree, Ratzlaff could be the guy. If they’re looking for the hot hand, you can’t find a better option than Rousseau.

And fun fact: Rousseau is the only goaltender on this team to have scored a goal this season. Maybe that’ll come in handy in Sweden.

Juuse Saros is the only full-time 5-foot-11 goaltender in the NHL today, but he came in as one of the top prospects in the world a decade ago. Rousseau has been passed over twice already. But the same could be said about 2023 Canadian world junior hero Thomas Milic, who, after getting passed over twice as a 6-foot-0 keeper, was finally taken by the Winnipeg Jets this past summer.

Perhaps Rousseau could have a similar result in Vegas next June.

“I know I’m not the biggest goalie,” Rousseau said. “I know for scouts, that’s the first thing they look at. But I think with my performance, I can prove that size doesn’t matter for me.”

Rousseau isn’t too concerned about the draft right now, but he knows a good showing on the biggest stage of his career could prove fruitful. He’s focused on doing something he has dreamed for his entire life, and that’s helping Canada win gold at the World Junior Championship. Canada enters the tournament in Sweden having won the past two years, with goaltending being a crucial element both times.

Every time there isn’t a clear No. 1, the question always defaults to whether goaltending is going to crush an otherwise strong lineup. But all it takes is one to have the best two weeks of their career to change fortunes, and that’s what Rousseau is banking on.

It’s not clear which direction Letang will go with his three keepers. But it wouldn’t be wise to bet against Rousseau, who continues to defy the odds to become one of the best junior goaltenders in the world.

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Could undrafted goaltender Mathis Rousseau be Canada’s answer in net?

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