Eh, Oh, Canada...No!

It’s not the NHL Playoffs, and the winners do not get to hoist the Stanley Cup. Despite that fact many players remember it as one of the best moments of their lives. Instead what they get to do is say they are World Junior Champions. The World Junior Hockey Championship is a national Hockey tournament for teams of ages 20 and under from all around the world. The first official tournament was held in 1977 and the WJC’s have been going strong ever since.

Just like in any other present-day sport or tournament, the WJC’s have their very own storied rivalries. The first that comes to mind has to be the ongoing rivalry between the United States and their neighbors from the north, Canada. In the past 33 years Canada has won gold 15 times to the United States’ one gold medal. When it came down to the gold medal game of the 2010 WJC’s fans piled into the Credit Union Centre and created a sea of red and white. The Americans were in town and were challenging for gold in Saskatoon.

The gold medal game followed the outline of the match up between USA and Canada just a few days before. At 2:40 of the first period Luke Adam notched the first goal of the game giving Canada a 1-0 lead. The building was shaking but the USA didn’t let it rattle them as they tied the game with 6:04 left in the first. The USA’s first goal was scored by Chris Kreider, surprising Canadian goalie Jake Allen, high glove side. It wouldn’t be long before the USA scored again, 36 seconds to be exact. The USA’s second goal of the game was a feed from Ryan Bourque to Jordan Schroeder, who also beat Allen high glove side. The US couldn’t hold onto the lead as Canada scored again at 16:03 in the first. As the game was tied at 2-2 Canada ran into penalty problems late in the first period. Charging and a minor misconduct were the calls, putting Canada down one man leading into the second period.

Early in the second period the US took advantage of the power play and made it 3-2 on a goal by John Carlson at 1:03. Two minutes and fifty three seconds later Canada once again tied it up, this time at 3-3. The third Canadian goal of the game was a soft goal by Taylor Hall that bobbled in on American goalie Mike Lee. Not even five minutes into the second period Team USA coach Dean Blais pulled goalie Mike Lee in favor of Jack Campbell.

Canada’s shootout hero from a few days before Brandon Kozun came close to putting Canada ahead early in third by ringing a shot off the crossbar. The US would pull ahead to a 4-3 lead on a goal by D‘Amigo at 4:12. D’Amigo buried a pass from Stephan by Allen. The US’s next goal would come 2:11 later from Stephan who punched in a rebound given up by Allen. At this point Canada’s head coach Willie Desjardins had seen enough of Allen and pulled him in favor of backup Martin Jones. Just like the New Years Eve battle between the US and Canada, the US would not be able to hold onto their two goal lead. With 2:49 left in the third Canada’s superhero clutch goal scorer Jordan Eberle beat Campbell with a one timer. Sixty five seconds later Eberle once again fired a shot on Campbell and tied the game at 5-5 at the end of regulation, the crowd exploded. The fans at the Credit Union Centre would get to see some free hockey as this game went to overtime.

The puck dropped on overtime after a short intermission. 4:21 later the Credit Union Centre went quiet except for a few American fans scattered here and there. The USA had done it on a goal scored by John Carlson flying up the ice on an odd man rush to put one past Jones. Sticks and gloves littered the ice as the celebration began for the USA. Although their team had lost the Canadian fans stayed and applauded the US on their gold medal win. As the US players hoisted the World Junior Championship trophy one by one the Canadian players hung their heads in disappointment. The chant was no longer “Eh, Oh, Canada go!”

The USA’s 2010 gold medal win was just their second in WJC tournament history, it was also their first win since 2004. Canada has won the WJC tournament the last five years and were going for the all time record of 16 gold medals. John Carlson and team USA had different plans as the US took home gold in a thrilling overtime win. Team USA is the 2010 World Junior Hockey Champions. Is this a precursor for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver? Let’s hope so.