Tweet
Originally posted by Asher
View Post
BTW
This was the talk of the media (and everyone I knew) even before the tourney started. The vast majority of the U20 skill players were so great they were playing in the NHL and could not attend the tourney. As a result, Canada constructed a big/heavy/tough team in absence of skill. They went in with everyone considering them an underdog, with the US being the favourite.
Canada in the underdog role at world juniors
Now that the big showdown with the United States is at hand, it is clear the forecasts of Canada as the underdog are all too accurate.
The United States rolled through the preliminary round and into Monday night’s world junior hockey championship semi-final undefeated. The Americans sport the best goaltender in the tournament in Jack Campbell and his .957 save percentage in four games.
All you can say about Canada in that department is there are two goaltenders on the team, even if Monday’s starter, Mark Visentin of the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara IceDogs, has a .963 save percentage. However, that is from two games against mighty Norway and Switzerland and it includes what could be the worst goal of the tournament, one that gave the Swiss the early lead in the quarter-final and gave Canada a big scare.
“It doesn’t matter what it’s sliced or diced on paper,” Canadian head coach Dave Cameron said Monday morning. “We’ve got to win the game.”
One thing in Canada’s favour is the Americans might be undefeated but they would not be in the semi-finals without Campbell. The Americans scored a mere 15 goals so far and their top scorer, forward Charlie Coyle, sits 14th in the tournament scoring race with six points in four games. Canadian centre Brayden Schenn is the leader with 16 points in five games.
However, the Americans do have lots of speed and Canada’s defence is not impressing anyone so far. The defencemen looked slow and tentative against the speedy Swedes in the loss that cost Canada the Group B bye into the semi-finals.
But Campbell, who plays for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, will be the key to the game. If the Canadian forwards can rattle him, they have a chance to make Wednesday’s gold-medal game.
“The challenge we have is not the number of shots, it’s the quality of shots,” Cameron said. “We have to get traffic, tips in front of him.”
Something else the Canadians have going for them is the crowd. The vast majority of ticket sales for the tournament were to Canadians and this crowd is expected to reflect that.
Cameron, who relishes conversation the way Brian Burke relishes discussion of the Phil Kessel trade, was asked what he expects from the crowd: “I expect noise.”
Now that the big showdown with the United States is at hand, it is clear the forecasts of Canada as the underdog are all too accurate.
The United States rolled through the preliminary round and into Monday night’s world junior hockey championship semi-final undefeated. The Americans sport the best goaltender in the tournament in Jack Campbell and his .957 save percentage in four games.
All you can say about Canada in that department is there are two goaltenders on the team, even if Monday’s starter, Mark Visentin of the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara IceDogs, has a .963 save percentage. However, that is from two games against mighty Norway and Switzerland and it includes what could be the worst goal of the tournament, one that gave the Swiss the early lead in the quarter-final and gave Canada a big scare.
“It doesn’t matter what it’s sliced or diced on paper,” Canadian head coach Dave Cameron said Monday morning. “We’ve got to win the game.”
One thing in Canada’s favour is the Americans might be undefeated but they would not be in the semi-finals without Campbell. The Americans scored a mere 15 goals so far and their top scorer, forward Charlie Coyle, sits 14th in the tournament scoring race with six points in four games. Canadian centre Brayden Schenn is the leader with 16 points in five games.
However, the Americans do have lots of speed and Canada’s defence is not impressing anyone so far. The defencemen looked slow and tentative against the speedy Swedes in the loss that cost Canada the Group B bye into the semi-finals.
But Campbell, who plays for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, will be the key to the game. If the Canadian forwards can rattle him, they have a chance to make Wednesday’s gold-medal game.
“The challenge we have is not the number of shots, it’s the quality of shots,” Cameron said. “We have to get traffic, tips in front of him.”
Something else the Canadians have going for them is the crowd. The vast majority of ticket sales for the tournament were to Canadians and this crowd is expected to reflect that.
Cameron, who relishes conversation the way Brian Burke relishes discussion of the Phil Kessel trade, was asked what he expects from the crowd: “I expect noise.”
This was the talk of the media (and everyone I knew) even before the tourney started. The vast majority of the U20 skill players were so great they were playing in the NHL and could not attend the tourney. As a result, Canada constructed a big/heavy/tough team in absence of skill. They went in with everyone considering them an underdog, with the US being the favourite.
Moreover, the players our coach pick for the team are not the most skilled and talented Russian players he had at his disposal (and surelly they are not most skilled, experienced and talented among the players of this tournament). But, they were the most MOTIVATED. The mental strengh, willpower and desire to figh to the end was the most decisive factor for our couch when he pick out players for his team. And his approach worked. Remember my thread about the Subway Metro superseries? That was EXACTLY the same team we had on U20 (with very few exceptions). And after that team overcame a 0-3 deficite TWICE in one game (first losing 0-3, then losing 3-6 and still won at the end) I realized that this team can beat anyone and gonna win U20 this year. Because these guys are UNBREAKABLE. They will never surrender and keep fighting to the last second. This is what exactly had happened at U20. First a comeback in 1/4 in game vs. Finland, then a comeback in 1/2 vs. Sweden, then a comeback in finals against you. This mental strengh over physical strengh approach really worked. And mentally we were the strongest team of this tournament. You can't deny that.
One day you win, the other day we do, but it's always a drama and a top class hockey thriller. That's why both of us love it.
and is amazing on ice. Great master. You gotta see his performance in the last game. Pure class. Whatever - 
Comment