The Results: The 2002 World Junior Championships ended in the Czech Republic today. Russia beat Canada 5-4 to take the Gold medal. Finland beat Switzerland 5-1 to take the Bronze medal. The United States went to overtime against Sweden and won 3-2 to take 5th place. The Czech Republic beat Slovakia 6-2 to secure 7th place; and Belarus beat France 4-2 in 2 OT(ended by shootout), so France will be relegated back to the B Pool and Germany will take France's spot at the 2003 WJC in Halifax.
The IIHF Directorate Awards were awarded as well. The Top Goaltender is Kari Lehtonen(Finland), the Top Defenceman is Igor Knyazev(Russia), and the Top Forward is Mike Cammalleri(Canada).
All results come from Faceoff.com
The Thoughts: ARRRRRRRRRRRGH!!! Canada had a 3-1 lead against Russia in the 2nd and blow it all away for the rest of the game. That hoser Alexander Svitov shouldn't have been playing. Anyone who spits on a player, be the FOURTH man in a fight, and sucker punches a player who was held by two other Russian players should be suspended from the whole TOURNAMENT, not only for two games. Svitov makes me sick. What's worse is that he's going to make it in the NHL eventually. At least the final didn't end up like the Piestany Punch-Up in 1987.
The biggest surprise was seeing France in the A pool of the tournament. After going 0-4 in the Round Robin giving up 36 goals and only scoring one for themselves, they WON against Belarus in the first relegation game. They nearly won the second-it would have been a strange thing to see France in the top tier for ANOTHER tourney.
The biggest dissapointment (other than that schmuck Svitov and Canada losing the final) is probably Jason Spezza. I expected him to rule this entire tournament, yet he didn't make the big impact.
Seeing the Czech Republic (winners of the last two WJCs) fight for 7th was GOLD, to me. More so since they lost to the US TWICE.
The next WJC will be in Halifax, so Canada should be extra pumped playing at home. Well, Canada didn't win the gold here, but they will hopefully get gold at SLC this year. I hope so, at least.
...Some fear the Pink... ...But many fear....THE MOUNTIE! (He's handsome, he's brave, and he's strong, you know)
Oh man, I am just begging to get flamed for this post -- but here goes.
I am a proud Canadian who does not cheer for Canada in international hockey competitions. If Canada won the World Juniors, it would justify our player development system. In major juniors, we train our players how to clutch, grab, and play good defensive hockey. We haven't taught our skilled players to play with audacity or panache in years, and it shows in every Team Canada get together.
So until our major junior teams get their heads out of their asses and realize that their job is to develop good hockey players, and not win at any cost with their 16-18 year olds, I'm afraid I'm gonna be cheering for the Swedes, Russians, and Czechs, who know how to develop hockey players I'm not ashamed to pay $80 to watch play.
*puts on asbestos underwear and rubs JR's barbeque sauce on his chest*
Past hills of chambermaids' dark bare arms and fields of muscles quilted to the bone, Right now I'm flying over, yeah right now I'm flying home.
Oh come on, Canada won the gold at WJC from 1993 to 1997, won the silver in 1999 and 2001, and the bronze in 2000. Canada only had one poor showing at the WJC in the last ten tourneys in 1998, but aside from that, they are ALWAYS a major contender at these tournaments. Because Canada is always competitive at the WJC, their player development system must be right in at least ONE aspect.
As far as developing good players, just look at the many NHL players who were developed in the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL. Many NHL players have come from that system of development, and there will be many players who will come from that system of development. If the system was so bad, not as many players from that system would be desired like they are from the NHL.
This from a proud American who does cheer for Canada in most international hockey competitions.
...Some fear the Pink... ...But many fear....THE MOUNTIE! (He's handsome, he's brave, and he's strong, you know)
Canada isn't the only hockey crazed country the world. Russia, Sweden, Finland and every country in the WJC and Olympics are big hockey countries, obviously. Canada, well, they just blew it. 3 to 1 lead into the second.
I was really happy to see Alexander Frolov score the game winning goal for Russia. Not only because he rocks, but because he was the L.A. Kings first round draft pick in 2000. So he's L.A. bound....so is Mike Cammalleri of Canadaa, who led the tourney in points.
Jason Spezza? Line him up right next to Alexander Daigle.
Plus-Minus is based on being on the ice for goals for and against correct??? How can a player who got an assist in a game that his team won 3-1 end up with a (-1) rating for that game??