• 1. It all starts with DEFENCE! Coaches can show kids this game as a prime example of how to use great defensive play to create offence and win games. The Canadians were bottling up the Russians perfectly, frustrating the Vodka Boys into making desperate 1-on-3 rushes, which were easily broken up. Canada only gave up 7 goals in 6 games this tournament, and tonight was textbook trap-and-counterattack hockey.
  
• 2. Ovechkin, a victim of Karma! The Canadians were on Ovechkin’s ass ALL night long, verbally and physically. The abuse took its toll in the 2nd period, when Ovechkin left the ice clutching his shoulder. Ovechkin did not play in the 3rd period, eliminating any little hopes the Russians had of a 5-goal comeback. I hope Ovechkin learned his lesson. To our American friends: You are welcome!
  
• 3. Best quote of the night from TSN’s Pierre McGuire, talking about the Russian Diving Squad: "These guys go down faster than free beer at a frat party!"
  

Now, It has to be asked...is this the best Canadian junior team ever? I can’t recall Canada ever steamrolling through EVERY SINGLE TEAM the way Canada has dominated the entire tournament this year. Pierre McGuire gives an absolute yes, and I’ll have to agree with him. The 1996 team had a 25-7 goals for/goals against...but this year's squad finished with a 41-7 goals for/goals against.

Looking at the tournament scores…
7-3 over Slovakia
8-1 over Sweden
9-0 over Germany
8-1 over Finland
3-1 over Czechia
6-1 over Russia

Only the Czechs gave Canada some nervous moments, but Canada outshot them by almost a 4-to-1 margin. Apart from a late-game lapse against Slovakia, and a rough 3rd period against Czechia, Canada pretty much had it’s way with the competition. It’s kind of strange to see that the (7th place) Slovaks were the only team to score more than 1 goal against the Canucks.

Final note: Patrice Bergeron was named Tournament MVP while Dion Phaneuf and Jeff Carter were named to the tournament All-Star team. Carter and Phaneuf become the first Canadians to win this honour in back-to-back seasons.

Congratulations to the Canadians for victory in the 2005 World Junior Championships, their first in 8 years. Let’s hope the victory parade continues when Vancouver hosts the 2006 WJC’s.

…and…Congrats to the Czechs for their bronze medal victory of the host USA squad. The Czechs beat the Americans, 3-2, in an overtime thriller.

The disappointing and ineffective duo of Lukas Kaspar and Jakub Petruzalek was basically demoted to the 4th line for this game. Michael Frolik, the 2006 draft-eligible wizard, and his linemates were promoted and given more ice time in this game. Frolik responded with a goal and assist in regulation time. Amazingly, Rostislav Olesz was held pointless. Thankfully, his linemate Petr Vrana buried the golden nugget in overtime to give the Czechs are well-deserved bronze.

I’m sure to have one more post of comments on the tournament tomorrow or the day after. As I watch Canadian players sing the national anthem (*sniff*, it’s so beautiful), here are the real results versus my predictions:



Wow, pretty damn good. I flipped the result of the Bronze Medal game and had a little difference with Germany and Switzerland…Not that it means anything, but since I usually suck at predictions, I’ll gloat when I can :)

# posted by Unknown @ 8:03 pm