Canada wins 2015 World Junior Championship Gold
Monday January 5, 2015
Two great games and a lifetime of hockey memories were forged on Monday in Toronto, with Slovakia stunning Sweden to claim bronze behind the fine goaltending of Denis Godla and Canada holding off a relentless Russian attack late in the game to claim gold for the first time since 2009. CHL talent was on full display on Monday, with Slovakian forward David Soltes (Prince George Cougars) contributing to his team’s cause with a goal and 22 CHL players bringing home gold medals as members of Team Canada.
The IIHF named its players of the tournament on Monday following the gold medal game. They are goaltender Denis Godla of Slovakia, defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov of Russia and forward Max Domi (London Knights) of Canada.
Here’s a look at the action from what’s sure to be a day to remember for years to come.
CANADA 5, RUSSIA 4
After a wild game of momentum swings and intense competition, Canada clinched gold for the first time since 2009, defeating Russia 5-4 at the Air Canada Centre. The Canadians posted a quick 2-0 lead and were up 5-1 at one point on the relentless Russians, who battled back to make for a tense finish in a sold out building.
Russian goaltender Igor Shesterkin’s night lasted just 2:32 as he was beaten on two of the three shots he faced out of the gate. Anthony Duclair (New York Rangers/Quebec Remparts) snapped a high wrister under the crossbar 23 seconds into play as he and Max Domi (London Knights) combined to register a quick chance off the forecheck. A shift later, Nick Paul (North Bay Battalion) used his long reach to get a stick on a centering pass from Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors) to deflect the puck past Shesterkin and make it 2-0.
Russian coach Valeri Bragin made a move that has worked for him in the past, swapping goaltenders as he did in Buffalo during the 2011 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game as his squad overcame a 3-0 deficit to claim gold over Canada. Hopeful for a similar result, Ilya Sorokin took over in the crease and the Russians quickly turned things around. Defenceman Dmitri Yudin found the back of the net at 9:20 from Anatoli Golyshev and Alexander Dergachev, stepping into a slapshot that beat goaltender Zachary Fucale (Quebec Remparts) through a screen inside the far post.
Canada came out of the gate fast in the second, with Connor McDavid (Erie Otters) making the score 3-1 5:08 into the period on an assist from Josh Morrissey (Kelowna Rockets). Morrissey caught the Russian defence making a line change to find McDavid busting through the middle, sending him in alone to beat Sorokin through the legs.
Max Domi would snap a wrister under the arm of Sorokin at 7:22 before setting up linemate Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice) for a tip on a long shot from inside the point that snuck through the legs of the Russian netminder at 12:30. Canada led 5-1 and was in full control just beyond the midway point of the second.
A Bragin timeout seemed to get the attention of his players following Reinhart’s goal to make it 5-1 for Canada. Three of his top shooters, Ivan Barbashev (Moncton Wildcats), Sergey Tolchinsky (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) and former Sarnia Sting forward Nikolay Goldobin would respond by scoring three goals in a span of 3:16, shocking the capacity crowd at the Air Canada Centre to bring Russia within a goal down 5-4. Russia outshot Canada 10-5 in the second and would embark on the third period with a powerplay.
Head Coach Benoit Groulx and his club came out for the third and calmly killed off Russia’s early powerplay, wrestling back some momentum before effectively neutralizing their dangerous offensive attack. Darnell Nurse (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) and the Canadian defensive corps played a sound third period game to limit Russian opportunities and hold on for a 5-4 victory as the ACC erupted.
Nurse was named Canada’s Player of the Game, being credited for his rugged play inside the defensive zone as he and defensive partner Shea Theodore (Seattle Thunderbirds) played the entire tournament without surrendering an even strength goal against.
Canada’s 16th gold medal in tournament history was certainly one to remember, overcoming a worthy Russian adversary that didn’t back down until the final buzzer sounded.
Congrats to all 22 past and present CHL players on Canada’s National Junior Team including Madison Bowey (Kelowna Rockets), Eric Comrie (Tri-City Americans), Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs), Max Domi (London Knights), Anthony Duclair (New York Rangers/Quebec Remparts), Robby Fabbri (Guelph Storm), Zachary Fucale (Quebec Remparts), Frederik Gauthier (Rimouski Oceanic), Dillon Heatherington (Swift Current Broncos), Joe Hicketts (Victoria Royals), Curtis Lazar (Ottawa Senators/Edmonton Oil Kings), Connor McDavid (Erie Otters), Samuel Morin (Rimouski Oceanic), Josh Morrissey (Kelowna Rockets), Darnell Nurse (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Nick Paul (North Bay Battalion), Nic Petan (Portland Winterhawks), Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors), Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice), Nick Ritchie (Peterborough Petes), Shea Theodore (Seattle Thunderbirds), Jake Virtanen (Calgary Hitmen). In addition to the players, congrats to CHL coaches on Team Canada including Benoit Groulx (Gatineau Olympiques), Dave Lowry (Victoria Royals), Scott Walker (Guelph Storm), and Martin Raymond (Drummondville Voltigeurs).
Four CHL players earned silver with Team Russia including Ivan Barbashev (Moncton Wildcats), Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings), Sergey Tolchinsky (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Rinat Valiev (Kootenay Ice).
SLOVAKIA 4, SWEDEN 2
A five minute third period powerplay was just what Slovakia needed to clinch its first medal since 1999 in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, defeating Sweden 4-2 on Monday. Pavol Skalicky scored the eventual winner on the man advantage 2:52 into the third period while goaltender Denis Godla wrapped up his excellent tournament, making 26 saves to be named Player of the Game and later, Goaltender of the Tournament.
The Slovaks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. David Soltes (Prince George Cougars) jumped all over a Swedish turnover to beat Linus Soderstrom over the blocker at 2:43. Mislav Rosandic extended the lead 39 seconds later off a centering feed from captain Martin Reway. Rosandic got in behind the Swedish defence to beat Soderstrom on the forehand.
The Swedes would draw even before the first expired, with William Nylander and Jens Looke scoring. Nylander finished off some quick puck movement at 10:22, taking a pass from Axel Holmstrom to beat Godla. With 3:48 remaining, Christoffer Ehn found Looke with a cross-crease feed as he fired it past the outstretched pad of Godla.
After a scoreless second, Slovakian captain Martin Reway went back to work, setting up Skalicky to beat Soderstrom on a quick shot from just below the hash marks for the winner. Godla would provide some key third period saves before Patrik Koys hit the empty net with 56 seconds to spare.
The 4-2 victory gives the Slovaks their first medal since 1999, when Marian Gaborik and Ladislav Nagy won bronze over Sweden 5-4.
David Soltes (Prince George Cougars) represented the CHL on Slovakia along with the club’s third goaltender Daniel Gibl (Barrie Colts). Sweden’s lone CHL player was Julius Bergman (London Knights).
For full coverage of the 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, including updates and schedules, visit worldjunior2015.com or hockeycanada.ca.
