USA wins World Junior Championship Gold Medal Game in overtime, 6 to 5

I hope you were able to see tonight’s World Junior Championship Gold medal game, a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory by Team USA ending Team Canada’s quest for 6 straight. First off, what a game! This game had a bit of everything. A bit of coaching, a lot of hitting and a scoresheet full of goals. It was only fitting that this game down to the last shot winning it all. Momentum seesawed back and forth between both teams. Just when it seemed like Canada would come out and dominate the entire game, USA got back in it with the first of its fluky goals. This game was for the ages.

Both teams pulled their goalies at one point or another, so neither team had an advantage in net. Both teams had their injury woes so no excuses there. It did seem to me that USA had the better jump. It seemed as if Canada wasn’t prepared for the jump the USA team had throughout the entire game. I felt that Canada was not really tested throughout the tournament except when playing the USA. While the USA lost the New Years Eve game, it proved to the USA that they could hang with the team from the north. Canada was able to turn it up a notch to tie it up late in the game, but in the end it wasn’t enough.

I really love the enthusiasm and the spirit that every team in the tournament displays. While you end up seeing a lot of future NHL players in this tournament you also see what the difference is between good young players and future NHL players. There was a lot of raw talent in this game who were forced to make quick decisions in a fast paced high pressure environment that is probably the biggest game of their young careers. Some decisions were successful, some were not. This was a definite growing opportunity for all of these players.

There were a few moments where you would scream ‘What was he thinking?’ such as crashing the net up by two goals with 5 minutes left, or ‘Get him out of there, his head’s not in it!’ when both goalies gave up fluky goals. I’m glad it happened fairly even on both sides, so the talent eventually decided the outcome of the game.

The end result was a game that was sent to overtime by Canada scoring two late goals and the USA holding on by their fingernails. Jordan Eberle put Team Canada on his back and almost single handedly carried them to the championship with his two late goals. Once the two teams came out for overtime, both had decided to end it early. Players pinching in on the play in overtime is not something you’d see in a game 7 overtime in the NHL, but young players did it in this game and I’m glad they didn’t fall into a defensives shell. The goal by John Carlson was a goal that John, a fine young talent, will remember for a long time.

Both teams and both nations should be proud. They played a heck of a game. We will definitely see some of these good young players in the NHL soon. I can’t wait until the Olympics, is this a precursor?

We’ll have to wait and see!