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Posted by Kerrzy on Monday, January 07, 2008 |
Hockey is Canada's game. It's been Canada's game, it'll BE Canada's game. And nowhere is that more evident than at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Every year, the stars of tomorrow's game gather somewhere in the hockey-playing world to battle it out for the coveted gold medal, and every year they're followed by mobs of face-painted, flag-waving, sign-brandishing Canadians. Win or lose, hockey is Canada's game.
Nowhere was that more true than in Pardubice. Amid a sea of red and white, our boys started out strong: a 3-0 shutout victory over the host, followed by a 2-0 shutout of the Slovaks. Two goalies, two shutouts. And then, the adversity. It was perhaps the first time we'd see the crafty Swedes come from behind to steal a game, but it wouldn't be the last -- or the last scare we'd get. READ MORE...
When Tobias Forsberg found himself all alone with not a Canadian player in sight, and only the goalie to beat with just seven long seconds to go in Canada's third of four round robin games, the nation held it's breath. The streak of 20 straight wins was over. But it was twenty games over a few years...these boys were likely more worried about the two-game win streak that was snapped.
You learn a lot about a team's character, their will, their sense of pride, when they're knocked down and forced to get back up. And Canada got back up. They easily disposed of the Danes, and then then Fins, and then they walked all over the Americans and soon found themselves looking eye-to-eye with the blue and yellow, both teams staring down the gold.
Livingrooms, sports bars, chat rooms, and the like all erupted with patriotism in anticipation of that beautiful instrumental when the Canadians found themselves one goal, and then two goals ahead after twenty minutes. Brad Marchand, the player sat down by Brent Sutter for the final couple games of the summer "Super Series" against the Russians because of his attitude; one of the returning players called upon this year to lead the youthful red and white, opens the scoring and assists the second goal. Oh boy.
The recollection of the last meeting of the two lingered as the second period went by without a goal either way, despite three power-plays for the Canucks. No bother, it won't happen again. Not a single second sooner than the Swedes struck for their first goal the first time around...the Swedes struck again. And again. And then the clock struck 20:00.
A nation held it's breath as our boys re-grouped in the room, behind closed doors. Do or die. Stomachs churned, nervous hands gripped whatever they could. And then...our boys pulled it off, and in true Canadian fashion.
It wasn't a Kelowna to Cole Harbour, dingle-dangle roof job. No, it was a hard-working, gritty, drive-to-the-net, masher of a goal. And we wouldn't have it any other way. They handed out the flags, they handed out the awards, they lined up for the medals and then they lined up on the blueline for that beautiful song we've all heard so many times before. But it never gets old.
From the starting goalie to the thirteenth forward, it was a treat to watch. Thanks boys. |
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