Contributors
Tags
Animoto - The End of Slideshows

Filed under

World Juniors

 
January 6, 2010

Instant Classic! IIHF Under 20 Gold Medal Game

I guess we can add another one to our list of  7 Greatest Hockey Games Between Canada & USA and make it a nice round number at 8.  Team USA ended Canada's run for 6 straight gold medals and they did it in style, beating Canada in OT.

John Carlson scored a Magic Johnson esque, no look goal to catapult the USA to a 6-5 win.  Take a look for yourself

Team Canada, or should I say Jordan Eberle battled back to tie the game in the third, but it was not enough, as Canada's last minute heroics ended on the shot by Carlson.  The victory clinches only the second gold medal for the Americans in tournament history and snaps Canada's streak of five straight gold medals.  

This game was amazing! Both teams went out there and showed us exactly why we love this game so much.  Congratulations to Team USA. They were very classy in victory as was Canada in defeat.  Hopefully both Olympic teams show this kind of heart in Vancouver!! 

Unlike their win in 2004, I think the Americans will be battling for gold for many more years to come, with 9 potential returning players.  Canada has 6.  The Americans will now have the chance to defend their title on home ice as the tournament shifts to Buffalo next year.

Key points in the game:
  • Dean Blais' decision to pull Lee and bring in Jack Campbell for the remainder of the game.  He made some huge saves.
  • Blocked shots - Team USA was a shot blocking machine.
  • Team USA's tremendous speed, which created a deadly transition game.  Very tough for Canada to defend.
What do you think the keys to the game were?

Congrats again to Team USA.  

Filed under  //   #wjhc   Team Canada   Team USA    World Juniors  
Posted by The Hockey Zen 

Comments [5]

January 4, 2010

7 Greatest Hockey Games Between Canada & USA

I am hoping this list stirs some conversation.  Especially with the big game coming tomorrow night where Team Canada takes on Team USA for gold in the 2010 IIHF World Junior Final.  This is my list, my opinion, which is fine, but I want to hear what you think.  Which games do you remember the most between USA and Canada?  

Disclosure: Oh and by the way, I maybe a bit biased, since I am from Canada :-)

I imagine the comments will be filled with additions, suggestions, deletions and that's how it should be with this list. 

With that, here are my 7 greatest hockey games between USA and Canada...ever.

7.  2002 Women's Olympic Final Canada vs USA

Every game between Canada and the US women's hockey teams are epic.  The 2002 Olympic Final did not fall short, as Canada won the game 3-2 and Canada won their first Olympic Gold Medal for women's hockey.

6.  1996 World Cup Final Game 3 Canada vs USA 

This is when USA showed the world, that they are a hockey power and here to stay.  1980 might of been lucky, but this was not.

5.  2009 Canada vs USA IIHF World Junior Championship 

This game was back and forth.  Team USA jumped our to a 2-0 lead and had a 3-1 lead and then the John Tavares show started.  The goal he scored to make it 3-2 was one of the nicest goals I have seen in a big game like that.

4.  2010 Canada vs USA IIHF World Junior Championship 

Similar to 2009, Team USA had a two goal lead and Team Canada found a way to comeback.   Alex Pietrangelo scored a very similar goal to Tavares's in 2009 to tie the game. 

3.  2004 US wins World Junior Championships 

For Canadian fans, this is the one that got away.  For US fans, this is the one where their team battled back to steal gold from Team Canada.  I still remember Marc Andre Fleury trying to clear the puck and hit Brent Seabrook and the puck slid into Team Canada's net.  That must of hurt.  Oh well, he has bounced back.  :-)

2.  2002 Mens Olympic Final Canada vs USA 

After a disappointing showing at the 1998 Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, Team Canada responded with it's first gold medal at the Olympics since 1952.  Was it the lucky loonie at center ice that put them over the top?

1.  2007 World Junior Semi- Final Canada vs USA 

For some reason this game just sticks out to me.  Maybe it's because I am a Habs/Carey Price fan or maybe it's because Toews scored 3 gaols in a row during the shootout.  Whatever it was, this is my number one choice and I still am on the edge of my seat when I watch the highlights.

There you have it.  Maybe tomorrow nights game will make the list.  I certainly hope so.

 

Filed under  //   Team Canada   Team USA    World Juniors  
Posted by The Hockey Zen 

Comments [5]

December 28, 2009

World Junior Championships in Real Time

With the World Junior Championships in full swing, it’s been hard to miss the chatter on Twitter during pivotal moments during games. We are now tracking all of that action, and compiling it in an interactive World Junior web page that compiles

  • Twitter buzz 
  • YouTube video highlights
  • Recent news powered by Yahoo Sports

Check it out and Become a fan and cheer for your country as they go for the gold.  Here is a sample video clip of the Top 10 World Junior Goals.

Filed under  //   World Juniors  
Posted by The Hockey Zen 

Comments [0]