Gold Medal Final - Canada vs USA in the World Junior Championships

Fortunately, living in Canada, with the games being played in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, I've seen a few of the blow-out games.  Unfortunately, they've been blow-out games, with scores like 16-0 and 18-1.

It's all come down to this, however, with the expected final match-up of Canada taking on the USA.  

Switzerland defeated the formerly dominant Russian team (Champions from 1974-1980) to get into the Semi-final, but their meeting with Canada wasn't quite so cheerful.  Canada overcame a second period of undisciplined penalties against  the Swiss team and defeated them 6-1 to move on to the final. 

The game wasn't without drama, with a player from each team not shaking hands at the end of the game, as is traditional to show sporstmanship.  Apparently, one of the Swiss players said something a Canadian player didn't like.  The controversy didn't erupt into a fight, however, and the Canadians will need to focus on hockey, not tempers as they meet up with the USA team.  


Sweden had to defeat the US to get into the final game, and were the favorites to do so, having played in the final against Canada in the last two tournaments.  The US wanted a final game again and they set out to make sure they were in it.   

The USA/Sweden game wasn't without controversy.  US star Jerry D'Amigo, a two goal scorer in the game, was the victim of a vicious hit in the third period by the Swedish Captain, Marcus Johannsen.  Johannsen was given a major penalty and a game misconduct.  Perhaps it was the frustration of not being able to dominate the US team as they had expected.  The call was against them as well, in the third period, when Cam Fowler of the US stopped a breakaway by Sweden's Silfverberg.  Fowler received a two minute penalty, but Sweden did not receive the penalty shot.  The US won by a score of 5-2, however, so even if the penalty shot had been awarded, and a goal scored, the US still would have won the game.

It will be a rematch of the 2004 US/Canada Gold Medal Game, won by the US.  In this tournament, the US was defeated New Years Eve by the Canadians, but only in a shoot out, further showing that this years Gold Medal meeting will be a thriller.

Both teams have NHL draft picks playing, so the play is excellent caliber hockey.  The medal games will be broadcast in Canada on TSN tomorrow.