Rematch Headlines Canada’s Journey

Canada is going for gold, again.

The difference, however, is the storyline behind this WJHC journey. Team Canada defeated the unbeaten Americans today 4-1 in the semi-finals and will face the Swedes in the gold medal match tomorrow.

Still with last year’s shootout battle fresh in their minds, both teams stepped on the ice with something to prove. U.S.A needed to show that their 4-0 record so far was for real, while Canada needed to step up their offense and solidify their tournament dominance. 

Although the match was not as thrilling as last year, it still had its moments. 

Even after an early onslaught by the Americans, goaltender Steve Mason and his teammates managed to keep the score tied at zero after one. That’s when Canada turned on their game.

First Shawn Matthias opened the scoring in the second with a strong drive, then Karl Alzner blasted a powerplay slapper past U.S.A. goaltender Jeremy Smith. Canada was up 2-0 heading into the third, and looking like the better team. But unlike the Sweden round robin game, the Canadians did not sit back.

Instead, they added two goals in 20 seconds with tallies from Colton Gillies and Brad Marchand, putting the Americans down 4-0. Not only did the third period quick strike shatter any hopes for U.S.A. to come back, it also prompted the singing of ‘Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye’ from the one-sided Canadian crowd. 

A late goal by the Americans did nothing as the nation north of the border moved one step closer to their goal, or as Stefan Legein says it, “One more, baby.” 

Canada passed another test today but their next one will be even tougher. That’s because they are somewhat familiar with their upcoming opponents, Sweden. 

This is not just another final game for these two teams, especially after their last meeting.

Canada will be looking for revenge, while Sweden will be backing up their round robin victory over the defending champions. The Swedes won 4-3, ending the 20 game winning streak of Canada and giving the team a fright they have rarely experienced in the past four years.

The upset will be on Team Canada’s mind, as this time, more will be on the line. Sweden has been dominant all tournament, but Canada will not be looking to lose again.

Sweden looked vulnerable with their slow start against Russia in the other semi-final, but managed to score the overtime tally for a 2-1 win. Robin Figren, Mikael Backlund and Patrik Berglund will lead the Swede attack, one that has the possibility to dismantle the Canadian defense.

Canada must focus on playing a team game, and not letting up. They must learn from their previous mistake of letting up and play strong the whole game. The road this year might be different, but this team is still in the same position. 

Gold is on the line, and the team with the most heart will come out champions, with the sweet sounds of their nation’s anthem playing in the background and their country’s flag rising to the rafters. Who wants it more?

Canada, USA, Reliving Last Year’s Classic

If Cam’s article did not get you pumped up enough for tomorrow’s tilt between the Canadians and Americans, maybe this video will. It’s one of the most memorable shootouts in Canada, and possibly World Junior Hockey’s, history.

Enjoy.

 

Top 10 Canadian Calls

Well folks, here we are just three days away from the 2008 IIHF World Junior Hockey Champions from the Czech Republic.  If there is anything better than getting a new Ipod for Christmas, it is the WJHC.

In the Christmas and Team Canada spirit of things, here is a TSC Top 10 Best Canadian hockey calls.

10. “He’s got to score…that’s all.  No.  He cannot do it.  The Czech Republic will play for the gold medal!”  Bob Cole at the 1998 Nagano Olympics after Brendan Shanahan missed in the shoot-out to Dominek Hasek and the Czech Republic in the semi final.  Canada lost the Bronze medal game and finished fourth in the tournament.

9. “Here’s a break…it’s gonna be a break…it is Joooooee Sakic…..SCORES! Jooooee Sakic….SCORES!  That makes it 5-2 Canada, surely that’s gotta be it!”  Bob Cole on Team Canada’s fifth goal scored by Joe Sakic to make it 5-2 Canada over the U.S.A. in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.  Canada won gold.

8. “Bam! Bam! That’s a double-dion right there!” Pierre McGuire, Hockey Analyst for TSN describes a massive double-body check that Dion Phaneuf threw against two Russian players in the gold medal game at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in North Dakota.  Canada won that game 6-1.

7. “The drive for five has arrived! Canada, World Junior Hockey Champions for the fifth year in a row!” Paul Romanek after Canada defeated the U.S.A. in 1997 to win its fifth straight WJHC title in a row.  Canada defeated The States by a score of 2-0.

6. “Here comes Nash…Rick Nash in and he scorrrrrrrrrrrrrrres!  What a goal by Rick Nash!” Dave Randorf calls a goal scored by Rick Nash at the 2007 IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships in the gold medal game against the Fins last spring.

5. “Count them down Vancouver.  Make it back-to-back gold medals.  Canada takes home gold in Vancouver!” Gord Miller counts down the final seconds of the 2006 IIHF World Juniors in Vancouver as Canada defeated the Russians 5-0 in front of the largest crowd to watch a WJHC game.

4. “The game is over!  The game is over!  And this time for Canada it is pure gold…….7-0!” Paul Romanek counts it down as Canada wins its fourth straight gold medal as they defeated Sweden en route to the gold.

3. “Here’s Iginla, feeds it up to Langkow, HERE’S a chance………there’s a goal!” Paul Romanek calls one of the most courageous Canadian goals in WJHC history as Iginla took a massive hit to make the play to Daymond Langkow in the gold medal game in Boston, Mass.

2. “Puck comes back to Woywitka…Woywitka shoots…….SCO–RES!!!” In an epic game between Canada and the U.S.A. in the 2003 WJHC from Halifax, TSN’s Gord Miller has his voice crack half-way through his infamous SCORES! call.  The goal wasn’t so much a beauty as was the call of the goal.

1. “Here comes Mueller on Price, Mueller in…STOPPED BY PRICE!  Canada’s going to the gold medal game at the 2007 World Junior Hockey Championships!” Gord Miller describes the stop by Canada’s Carey Price on American Peter Mueller in the semi final shoot-out last year in Sweden.  Canada went on to win gold two days later against the Russians, winning their third straight gold medal.

Count them down Canada…just three days left!

TSC Top 10 Biggest Canadian Moments in the WJHC

To show we, at TSC, have no life, here are our choices for the top Canadian moments at the World Juniors:

 1987: Canada and Russia were involved in a bench-clearing brawl at the 1987 World Junior Hockey Championships in what became known as the “Punch-up in Piestany”.  With game officials not knowing how to diffuse the mess on the ice, the arena lights were shut off in an attempt to regain control.  That failed, and when the final punch had been landed, both teams were disqualified from the competition.

1993: Canada takes home the gold medal in Gavle, Sweden after finishing 6th the following year.  Canada, led by Martin Lapointe, beat Russia 9-2 and then defeated a Swedish team comprised of Peter Forsberg and Markus Naslund by a score of 3-2 to clinch the gold.

1995: Canada wins its third consecutive gold medal in Red Deer, Alberta, finishing the tournament 7-0-0.  Due to the NHL lockout that year, Canada featured a lot of destructive talent and scored 49 goals in seven games.

2006: After sending Kyle Chipchura in all alone to score an empty-net game-winning goal against the U.S. in 2006, Steve Downie is elbowed by Jack Johnson in the head.  Downie remained in the tournament and Johnson became public enemy No. 1 in Canada that year, as well as the next.

2003: In one of the most exciting games in World Junior Hockey history, Jeff Woywitka scores to give Canada a one-goal lead against the Americans.  The goal erupted the crowds in Halifax, which could be heard in Vancouver, while TSN’s Gord Miller gave one of the most neck hair-raising calls on the goal of all time.

1999: Roberto Luongo stole the show in Winnipeg for Team Canada in a 3-2 loss to the Russians in overtime of the gold medal game.  Luongo faced 40 shots and was the only reason that game remained close.  Simon Gagne had a breakthrough tournament as well, scoring seven goals and tallying eight points in seven games.

2004: Rostislav Olezs is the recipient of a massive Dion Phaneuf hit that kept the Czech forward down for several minutes at the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championship in Helsinki, Finland.  The term “That’s a Dion!” was coined the day by TSN hockey analyst Pierre McGuire.

2005: The following year, Pierre McGuire came up with a new term to show his enthusiasm for Dion Phaneuf.  “Bam! Bam! That’s a double-Dion!” was used to describe two hits that Phanuef threw within the span of less than two seconds.  The turnover led to a Team Canada goal and more importantly, its first gold medal in the WJHC since 1997. 

2006: Again with Brent Sutter behind the bench in Vancouver, Team Canada goes undefeated at the 2006 WJHC and captures back-to-back gold medals.  Steve Downie emerged as one of Canada’s best players, scoring the winning goal of the gold medal game against Russia, while Justin Pogge captured his third shutout of the tournament.

2007: Canada and the U.S.A. lock horns in another epic battle between the two powerhouse teams in the semi final in Leksland, Sweden.  Tied through 60 minutes of regulation and 10 minutes of overtime at 1-1, Canada and the U.S.A. went seven rounds in the shootout before Carey Price stopped Peter Mueller to give Canada the win and a shot at a third straight gold medal.  Jonathan Toews scored three times in the shootout, including the game winner.  Canada went on to defeat the Russians in the gold medal game by a score of 4-2.