Canada on top of the world
January 5, 2005 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
Grand Forks, North Dakota -- After a seven year drought and four straight trips to the gold medal final, Canada is finally back on top of the Junior Hockey World today after defeating Russia 6-1 in Tuesday's night's gold medal final in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
The Canadians, led by head coach Brent Sutter of the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels, built up an early 2-0 first period lead and then proceeded to put the game away with four unanswered goals in period two en route to the win.
Team Canada got goals from six different players including Patrice Bergeron of the American Hockey League's Providence Bruins. Bergeron, named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player, also added an assist to give him five goals and 13 points in Canada's six games - all victories.
Ryan Getzlaf of the Calgary Hitmen, London Knights' Danny Syvret, Jeff Carter of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Red Deer defenceman Dion Phaneuf and Kingston's Anthony Stewart also scored for the Canadians, who outshot the Russians 32-19 and outscored opposing teams 41-7 in this year's event.
Only a shot off a Canadian stick by Alexei Emelin beat Canadian netminder Jeff Glass of the Kootenay Ice in last night's final.
Canada's last gold at the world junior tournament was 1997 and there has been sour silver medals and four bronze since then.
In Tuesday's bronze medal game, the Czech Republic dumped the defending gold medal champion Americans 3-2 in overtime.
Joining Bergeron on this year's Tournament all star team were Canadians Carter and Phaneuf as well as Czech goalkeeper Marek Schwarz, who stars in the WHL for the Vancouver Giants, U.S. defenceman Ryan Suter and Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin, who hurt his right shoulder in the final against the hard hitting Canadians.
Meanwhile at the World Under 17 Championship final in Lethbridge last night, Brandon's Ryan White of the WHL's Calgary Hitmen assisted on two goals by Winnipegger Jonathan Toews as Team Western defeated Team Pacific 3-1. Two Wheat King prospects - Matt Walters and Chad Erb are members of Team Western, which is made up of players from both Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Brandon defenceman Mike Cann meanwhile patrolled Team Pacific's blueline.
The Wheat Kings will resume the second half of the 2004-05 campaign tonight against the first place Saskatoon Blades at the Keystone Centre. Game time is 7 p.m.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 5, 2005
- T-Birds to aid tsunami relief - Seattle Thunderbirds
- All six Silvertips come back with medals - Everett Silvertips
- Cougars Add Overage Forward - Prince George Cougars
- Coburn and Canadian National Team find Redemption is Golden - Portland Winterhawks
- In The Corners with Thom Beuning - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Pats to honor World Under-17 Hockey Challenge winners - Regina Pats
- Canada on top of the world - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Everett Falls to Kamloops in BC Tonight - Everett Silvertips
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