The Canadians fell 5-1 to the United States in Thursday's semifinal.
The Americans will meet the winner of the Sweden-Russia semifinal for gold Saturday. Canada will face the loser for bronze.
"We came a long way and we still have an opportunity to get a medal,'' head coach Steve Spott said. "It's not the colour we want, but we owe it to Canadian fans to come home with a medal.''
Canada won bronze last year when the tournament was held in Calgary and Edmonton.
Canada had most of the country's best 19-year-old players available to it this year because of the NHL lockout, with the exception of a defenceman and a forward lost to injury before the tournament.
Canada dominated the tournaments of 1995 and 2005 en route to gold when the NHL locked out their players those seasons. There were high expectations of this team that included Edmonton Oiler forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Spott said he chose his 23-player team with speed in mind, but the United States made Canada look like they were standing still for two periods Thursday.
"The start was the difference in the hockey game,'' Spott said following the game. "We simply didn't have the energy or the desperation that the Americans had early.''
U.S. captain Jake McCabe and John Gaudreau each scored a pair of goals and Jim Vesey also scored for the Americans.
Trailing 4-0 after 40 minutes, Ty Rattie scored a short-handed goal for Canada early in the third, but Gaudreau scored his second of the game at 15:41.
Canada had beaten the U.S. 2-1 in a Pool B game on Sunday with just 11 forwards because of suspensions. A full complement of 13 should have produced more scoring chances even-strength, but didn't.
U.S. goaltender John Gibson, who plays for Spott on the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers, made 26 saves for the win. Gibson stopped an all-alone Ryan Strome in the second period.
Canadian starter Malcolm Subban was replaced by Jordan Binnington in the second period after the U.S. had scored four goals on 16 shots. Binnington, playing in his first game since Dec. 22, made 25 saves in relief.
"It had nothing to do with Malcolm at all. We left him out to dry and the goals they scored were quality goals,'' Spott said. "It was more than anything trying to give our team a little bit of a shot of adrenaline.''
Canada finished first in Pool B at 4-0 and earned the bye to the semifinal.
The U.S. finished third in their pool at 2-2 and defeated the Czech Republic 7-0 on Wednesday to advance to the semifinal.
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UFA, Russia - Sweden defeated Russia 3-2 in a shootout Thursday to advance to the final of the world junior hockey championship.
The defending champions will play the United States for gold on Saturday after the Americans posted a 5-1 win over Canada in the early semifinal. Host Russia will play Canada for bronze.
After a scoreless overtime session, Sweden's Sebastian Collberg scored the only goal in the shootout.
Sweden dominated the first period with Elias Lindholm and Filip Forsberg giving the visitors the early lead. Andrei Mironov cut the deficit in half in the second period and Mikhail Grigorenko tied the game midway through the third.
Niklas Lundstrom made 27 saves for the victory. Andrei Vasilevski stopped 38 shots for Russia.
Slovakia beat Latvia 5-3 in a relegation round match.
© 2013 The Canadian Press
27 comments:
Goaltending chosen before the tournament and camp had begun doesn't win gold.
Full marks to US.They were better prepared,better players,better skaters,better defense and better goaltending. Canada left everything on the ice against Russia and the States strong start turned Canada into spectators at this game..US will probably win it all. Polkabill from Regina
Can't really call this a shocker. At no time did Canada ever look like a Dominant hockey team - in any of the round robin games. Subban was not the fault of this loss it was a total team lack of effort.
No excuses - with a bonafide NHL'er they were not good enough.
The Americans looked better than the Canadians in the round robin; if not for Subba we lose that game as well. The Americans ARE the best team there; took them a while to get rolling but at this point I can't see them losing to the Swedes or Russians.
I'm definitely not going to blame Subban for the loss as the Americans are the best team in the tourney. But like mentioned above, it's pretty terrible when the goalie is chosen long before the tourney. Subban was not the best goalie available. Not saying he isn't a great goalie, but out of the goalies at the main camp, he was pretty much the worst. In many of the past tourneys, Canada's goaltending has won games for Canada. Sure, it happened this year too, but he hasn't been dominant. It doesn't help when you're hung out to dry, but after watching Subban all tourney, I can guarantee that Binnington or Brossoit would have stopped more of those shots that went in. But, we all know the under 20 team is all politics, so we'd may as well just get used to Canada not icing the best players available.
FG
Time to call Brent Sutter! Lets be honest everyone. The braintrust at Hockey Canada has switched to an OHL group with the hiring of Pendergast. Most of our teams are coached by OHL guys and were not winning much. When we were in dark days before the people at Hockey Canada came screaming for change and gave Sutter control of the team. He brought something like 14 WHLers, didn't care about hurting the OHL's feelings, and won gold for Canada. Time to get back to how it should be done.
Canada is losing it’s dominance in the world of hockey. They had all the best players available to choose from with the NHL not playing. Maybe the “Canadian way” in terms of play style is no longer best - something needs to change.
All the best from the NHL...so three? Three NHLers isn't going to help if the rest of the team aren't the best players available.
Either way, here's to hoping Canada can completely crush Russia's spirits!!!
FG
FG,
You were at the camp? You did the evaluation? You can guarantee Binnington or Brossoit would have stopped those shots? Not likely.
Yup, it's all politics. I know last year the excuse was Jordan Weal not being on the team. Never mind him never playing a meaningful game during his entire WHL career it was just a given he'd have put them over the top. Well, in the playoffs he never touched the puck.
The Canadian program puts that team out there because that group wins U17s, and all of the lead up tournaments to this big one. It isn't one big tryout these kids are spotted early on.
Typical though, make excuses though. They haven't won for awhile so it's a conspiracy. Even with an NHL Player on the roster there is still an excuse.
Obama
There are 2 teams ranked in the top 10 for the WHL and when was the last time a WHL team won a Memorial Cup?
The reason Canada does not win gold every year anymore is that other countries are catching up and getting better.
The Swedes put on an absolute clinic of Puck Control in the 1st period. If you're a minor hockey coach, you better see this.
Their use of the entire ice will be the reason for them beating USA in the final.
Take a minute to look at these young people minus their hockey uniform. The fact these kids are playing this calibre of hockey at all should remind us how good they really are. No surprise to me that we will end up third or fourth. The talent level in the world has caught up to Canada's and assuming that Canada is going to come home with gold every year is foolish . We picked the wrong day to have a bad game.
obama, weal never touched the puck in the playoffs because he was the only player we had, they just keyed on him and it was all over. It's not his fault he never got to play a meaningful game, the team has been terrible forever now. as for hockey canada, they suck, a bunch of one sided losers leaving home players like matt dumba and taking a guy like herrington ? what ? really?? makes me laugh. the US is gonna dominate hockey for a long loooooooong time however. They started up many many minor hockey organizations in the early 2000's all over the southern US in particular and all of the coaches are ex pro players and they get paid to do so! here it's guys who never played so dont know anything about teaching hockey ( guys like obama ), its only dad's coaching to make sure their kid gets enough ice time and doesnt feel bad, in the US, the best get better because they get the best coaching all the way through and the best play with the best, (you dont have mike sillingers kid playing with obama's kid if ya know what I mean ;) )so the best kids get better. We are behind the US right now in a major way when it comes to minor hockey (and obviously Junior hockey now too !), until we get better coaching and until parents can sit back and not have any say in anything we will not even begin to advance, and thats just the start of it....
Hi Balloon Head,
I just want to clarify a couple things:
First Off:
You say,
"until parents can sit back and not have any say in anything we will not even begin to advance, and thats just the start of it...."
I assume you're advocating Hockey Canada use the model the Chinese government uses for Gymnastics, and the old Soviet Union did with their hockey program.
Second Point:
Hockey Canada is elite hockey for elite players. To equate volunteer coaches in community grassroots organizations as somehow being below par is just stupidity. There are USA grassroots programs, and you're gonna say they're all coached by former NHL'ers. Maybe those guys coach becasue they dont' have to deal with the bulls*t volunteers here have to. I mean that's just a theory, but again equating little kids hockey to the Hockey Canada program is once again pure stupidity.
Third Point:
So if Jordan Weal wasn't keyed on then the Pats would have won the Memorial Cup? What exactly are you saying?
Fourth Point:
I love this Blog and the Commentators on here because it allows me the chance test and prove the concept of Theory of Mind.
Theory of mind is the ability to attribute mental states—beliefs, intents, desires, pretending, knowledge,to oneself and others and to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one's own.
Deficits occur in people with autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as neurotoxicity due to alcohol abuse.
In my opinion many of you meet the test of having a deficit theory of mind.
Y'er Welcome
Obama
....and just curious, but did you submit an applicaton to Coach and volunteer your knowledge of hockey?
Not a chance. You sit on your fat ass, drinking coffee, and complaining all winter. On that I'll bet my last nickel.
Now I'm done with yah
Y'er Welcome
Obama
Rob Vanstone December 23, 2012, " The Canadians will win the Gold" Vanstone, wrong again, no surprise there.
i said on this blog before tournament even started that Russians win Gold.
Rod, please start blocking some of these guys that just want a fight with someone, it's the down side of your blog and certainly not needed on here. Love your work on the radio and love checking out the blog for the scoop on things but we can do without the fight club.
Hmm. I wonder why my kid does not want to play anymore. Adults wailing on teenagers. Disgrace!
Canada shits the bed when it matters most. Its been that way for the last couple of years. Que sera sera!
Did you know obama is really a hobbit?
need a few more first rounders on this Junior team , so we can win! NOT...... political BS... u dont think they r told who to take by the big boys in the NHL....lol....wouldnt want a 3rd rounder outdoing a 1st....or maybe someone that wasnt even drafted..the kid from Regina, Lipon after he ran over the other kid and got suspended., our coach comes on TV and says "how can i trust him" what a joke....
To the above post with the rant about, well really nothing relevant. Your opinion, whatever that may be, would be taken much more seriously if you could demonstrate effective use of the English language.
Maybe before you go off about Hockey Canada and their player selection, you should do a couple of things.
First and foremost, try to write and communicate as if you are intelligent. Secondly, quit your job at the Co - op Gas Bar on Rochdale and apply to coach Canada's entry next year in Sweden. I mean, they would be crazy not to hire you, right? You seem to know so much about, well everything.
Have a great weekend.
Could you even begin to imagine one of the people on here who criticize trying to run a 1 hour practice for players with Hockey Canada.
It was for that very reason Pros vs Joes on Spike TV was invented.
I coached kids hockey up to about age 18. I wasn't a great coach and many might say I was terrible, but I did learn a few things. I could coach better the higher up I sat to watch the game.
Standing behind the bench, I could coach better than the players. In the stands I could coach better than the coach. Watching on TV, I can coach better than the nhl coaches! It gets so much easier when all you have to do is criticize. On the bench, there's lots to deal with including motivating, personalities, managing lines, changing strategies, calling faceoffs, watching the opposition, working with injuries, monitoriing positional play, systems, dealing with refs, making notes for intermission, making notes about next practice, etc etc etc.
So when I see people on here with such strong opinions about the right way to coach or that our players are not playing hard enough, I need to roll my eyes a bit.
I agree the other countries have caught up. I read somewhere that the US has more kids playing hockey than Canada. But their population is 100x ours. The US outplayed us both games. Subban wasnt the problem. The US was the problem imho (that game anyway, we could probably win in a seven game series)
Give the other teams some credit too. Its BS to say Canada LOST that game . I'd say the US WON it. Im going to sulk about it till next year but I wont be blaming coaches or players for the loss.
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