In Canada you learn to play along the boards from an early age. You learn to wear your opponents down by hitting them into the boards; You learn to take a hit into the boards; you learn to protect the puck using your body and the boards. You learn to use the boards to control play. You learn to use the boards to clear the puck.
To beat Canada; you use skill and a grinding game; combine with speed at a high tempo.
Canada's strategy: Grind your opponents early in the game and they will slow down; Grind your opponents in the middle of the game and they will take penalties; Grind your opponents in the 3rd period and they will lose moral.
Canada = ALL HEART; which no other nation has. Doesn't matter if you have more skill; more speed; more strength because nothing beats more HEART.