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Golden again: Canada beats Sweden 5-1 to win world junior championship
Donna Spencer, THE CANADIAN PRESS
6 hours, 12 minutes ago
PrintOTTAWA - Canada's junior hockey team is back on top of the world, and this gold medal might be the sweetest one yet.
Record-setting crowds packed arenas in the nation's capital to watch the Canadian team roll through the world junior championship with an unbeaten record, collecting a fifth-straight gold medal with a 5-1 victory over Sweden on Monday night.
It was the second straight tournament victory for four players on the Canadian team, but it left them with a feeling unlike any other.
"It's special being on home ice," said forward John Tavares, one of the returnees. "When you play overseas, it's you and the players and the staff and you feel like a unit playing on foreign soil for Canada.
"But being here with all these people is amazing. There's no experience like this one."
The victory tied the country's record of five consecutive titles in this tournament set between 1993 and 1997. Canada's 15th gold at the world juniors also tied Russia/Soviet Union for the all-time lead.
The Canadian players jumped all over the ice in celebration after the horn sounded on their latest victory.
"Unbelievable," said captain Thomas Hickey. "It's tough to put into words. So many emotions are going through your head. Your thankful to be a Canadian especially when you see all the support you get in the building."
Canada goes for a record six in a row at the 2010 world junior tournament in Saskatoon and Regina.
Cody Hodgson of the Brampton Battalion scored twice while Subban of the Belleville Bulls, Montreal Junior forward Angelo Esposito and Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats added singles for the hosts.
Tavares had an assist and finished one point behind Hodgson for the tournament scoring lead with 15 points. The 18-year-old from Oakville, Ont., was named the tournament's most valuable player and top forward.
"It's a great honour but I couldn't have earned it without the other 21 guys," said Tavares. "It's an honour but it's a better feeling being world champion."
He remains a strong candidate to go No. 1 overall in the 2009 NHL draft.
Dustin Tokarski of the Spokane Chiefs made 39 saves for the victory - an emphatic response to those who questioned his play after a win over Russia in the semifinals. Coach Pat Quinn stuck with him and was rewarded for the decision.
"We wanted to make our own page and finish our own journey," said Tokarski. "People on the outside, yeah 'Drive For Five,' but we're a team and we believe in ourselves and that's all we were worrying about - doing it for Team Canada."
Joakim Andersson scored for the Swedes and goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 26 shots.
Sweden lost to Canada in the final for a second straight year. The country hasn't won gold at the event since 1981.
"It's hard to explain the feeling," said Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman. "You're burning inside and you want to scream."
The 20,380 at Scotiabank Place set a new single-game attendance record at the world junior tournament. It was the fourth time a new mark was established in Ottawa and erased the previous high of 20,223 that was set during Canada's preliminary-round game against the U.S.
The audience included Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff.
"Throughout the tournament, Canadian players not only produced world-class hockey on the ice, they also represented our country with tremendous dignity and pride off the ice," Harper said in a statement. "I want to commend all of the players, coaches, volunteers, families and staff who contributed to this successful tournament.
"This is a well-deserved victory."
Canada led 2-0 after two periods, but history has shown that to be an uncomfortable margin. The Canadians had the same lead going into the third period of last year's final in Pardubice, Czech Republic, but the Swedes scored twice to force overtime.
The hosts started the third with a man advantage because of Mikael Backlund's interference penalty to end the second.
Canada's power-play was running hot at 51 per cent heading into the final and Hodgson scored his team's second of the game 33 seconds into the final period. The Vancouver Canucks prospect wired a shot that beat Markstrom low stick side.
The Swedes cut into their deficit with Andersson wheeling the puck out front and getting a deflection over Tokarski's shoulder at 8:30.
Eberle and Hodgson added empty-net goals to secure the victory.
Markstrom had an eventful evening as he was involved in two helmet-removing collisions - one of his own making - and was tripped outside his crease in the first 40 minutes.
In what was already a testy game with punches and face washes after the whistle, a second-period incident turned the heat up even more.
After Canada's Patrice Cormier knocked Carl Gustaffson into the boards and shoved him again, Markstrom came out of his crease and checked Stefan Della Rovere during the same play. Markstrom was penalized for roughing and Della Rovere and Cormier for interference.
Earlier, Esposito and Markstrom collided in a footrace for the puck in Sweden's zone. Hedman took exception to that, grabbing Esposito's head and punching the Montreal Junior forward, which made Hedman public enemy No. 1 at Scotiabank Place.
He complained afterwards about Canada's play.
"They ran over our goalie to try and take him out," said Hedman. "And there were no calls."
Esposito responded to getting punched in the head by scoring his country's second goal of the game. The Atlanta Thrashers prospect stepped out from behind the goal-line and backhanded the puck upper far corner at 4:06.
It stood up as the winner.
The event itself proved to be a winner as well.
According to organizers, 453,282 tickets were sold - wiping out the tournament attendance record of 325,138 that Vancouver set three years ago.
"Just look at the support we got, playing in Canada," said Tavares. "They want nothing but the best but they (put) the support behind us."
Germany and Kazakhstan were relegated to the world 'B' championship for finishing ninth and 10th. Switzerland and Austria will join Canada, Sweden, Russia, Slovakia, the U.S., Czech Republic, Finland and Latvia in Saskatchewan.
Notes: Rumours surfaced Monday that the Oshawa Generals had traded Tavares's his rights to the London Knights, but the Generals issued a statement saying the 18-year-old Oakville, Ont., had not been dealt ... According to the International Ice Hockey Federation, Ottawa posted the fourth largest attendance of any of its world championships, including the world men's tournament which is so popular in Europe. The 2004 world championship in the Czech Republic holds the record of 552,097.
Golden again: Canada beats Sweden 5-1 to win world junior championship
Donna Spencer, THE CANADIAN PRESS
6 hours, 12 minutes ago
PrintOTTAWA - Canada's junior hockey team is back on top of the world, and this gold medal might be the sweetest one yet.
Record-setting crowds packed arenas in the nation's capital to watch the Canadian team roll through the world junior championship with an unbeaten record, collecting a fifth-straight gold medal with a 5-1 victory over Sweden on Monday night.
It was the second straight tournament victory for four players on the Canadian team, but it left them with a feeling unlike any other.
"It's special being on home ice," said forward John Tavares, one of the returnees. "When you play overseas, it's you and the players and the staff and you feel like a unit playing on foreign soil for Canada.
"But being here with all these people is amazing. There's no experience like this one."
The victory tied the country's record of five consecutive titles in this tournament set between 1993 and 1997. Canada's 15th gold at the world juniors also tied Russia/Soviet Union for the all-time lead.
The Canadian players jumped all over the ice in celebration after the horn sounded on their latest victory.
"Unbelievable," said captain Thomas Hickey. "It's tough to put into words. So many emotions are going through your head. Your thankful to be a Canadian especially when you see all the support you get in the building."
Canada goes for a record six in a row at the 2010 world junior tournament in Saskatoon and Regina.
Cody Hodgson of the Brampton Battalion scored twice while Subban of the Belleville Bulls, Montreal Junior forward Angelo Esposito and Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats added singles for the hosts.
Tavares had an assist and finished one point behind Hodgson for the tournament scoring lead with 15 points. The 18-year-old from Oakville, Ont., was named the tournament's most valuable player and top forward.
"It's a great honour but I couldn't have earned it without the other 21 guys," said Tavares. "It's an honour but it's a better feeling being world champion."
He remains a strong candidate to go No. 1 overall in the 2009 NHL draft.
Dustin Tokarski of the Spokane Chiefs made 39 saves for the victory - an emphatic response to those who questioned his play after a win over Russia in the semifinals. Coach Pat Quinn stuck with him and was rewarded for the decision.
"We wanted to make our own page and finish our own journey," said Tokarski. "People on the outside, yeah 'Drive For Five,' but we're a team and we believe in ourselves and that's all we were worrying about - doing it for Team Canada."
Joakim Andersson scored for the Swedes and goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 26 shots.
Sweden lost to Canada in the final for a second straight year. The country hasn't won gold at the event since 1981.
"It's hard to explain the feeling," said Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman. "You're burning inside and you want to scream."
The 20,380 at Scotiabank Place set a new single-game attendance record at the world junior tournament. It was the fourth time a new mark was established in Ottawa and erased the previous high of 20,223 that was set during Canada's preliminary-round game against the U.S.
The audience included Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff.
"Throughout the tournament, Canadian players not only produced world-class hockey on the ice, they also represented our country with tremendous dignity and pride off the ice," Harper said in a statement. "I want to commend all of the players, coaches, volunteers, families and staff who contributed to this successful tournament.
"This is a well-deserved victory."
Canada led 2-0 after two periods, but history has shown that to be an uncomfortable margin. The Canadians had the same lead going into the third period of last year's final in Pardubice, Czech Republic, but the Swedes scored twice to force overtime.
The hosts started the third with a man advantage because of Mikael Backlund's interference penalty to end the second.
Canada's power-play was running hot at 51 per cent heading into the final and Hodgson scored his team's second of the game 33 seconds into the final period. The Vancouver Canucks prospect wired a shot that beat Markstrom low stick side.
The Swedes cut into their deficit with Andersson wheeling the puck out front and getting a deflection over Tokarski's shoulder at 8:30.
Eberle and Hodgson added empty-net goals to secure the victory.
Markstrom had an eventful evening as he was involved in two helmet-removing collisions - one of his own making - and was tripped outside his crease in the first 40 minutes.
In what was already a testy game with punches and face washes after the whistle, a second-period incident turned the heat up even more.
After Canada's Patrice Cormier knocked Carl Gustaffson into the boards and shoved him again, Markstrom came out of his crease and checked Stefan Della Rovere during the same play. Markstrom was penalized for roughing and Della Rovere and Cormier for interference.
Earlier, Esposito and Markstrom collided in a footrace for the puck in Sweden's zone. Hedman took exception to that, grabbing Esposito's head and punching the Montreal Junior forward, which made Hedman public enemy No. 1 at Scotiabank Place.
He complained afterwards about Canada's play.
"They ran over our goalie to try and take him out," said Hedman. "And there were no calls."
Esposito responded to getting punched in the head by scoring his country's second goal of the game. The Atlanta Thrashers prospect stepped out from behind the goal-line and backhanded the puck upper far corner at 4:06.
It stood up as the winner.
The event itself proved to be a winner as well.
According to organizers, 453,282 tickets were sold - wiping out the tournament attendance record of 325,138 that Vancouver set three years ago.
"Just look at the support we got, playing in Canada," said Tavares. "They want nothing but the best but they (put) the support behind us."
Germany and Kazakhstan were relegated to the world 'B' championship for finishing ninth and 10th. Switzerland and Austria will join Canada, Sweden, Russia, Slovakia, the U.S., Czech Republic, Finland and Latvia in Saskatchewan.
Notes: Rumours surfaced Monday that the Oshawa Generals had traded Tavares's his rights to the London Knights, but the Generals issued a statement saying the 18-year-old Oakville, Ont., had not been dealt ... According to the International Ice Hockey Federation, Ottawa posted the fourth largest attendance of any of its world championships, including the world men's tournament which is so popular in Europe. The 2004 world championship in the Czech Republic holds the record of 552,097.
