Canada wins gold in Pardubice!

PARDUBICE, Czech Republic – Matt Halischuk sealed his place in Canadian hockey history on Saturday, scoring 3:36 into overtime to give the National Junior Team a 3-2 win over Sweden and its fourth consecutive gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Brad Marchand and Claude Giroux also scored for Canada.

Shawn Matthias (Belleville Bulls) forced a turnover in the Swedish end and Halischuk pounced on the puck to score what has to be the biggest goal of his life.

"I'm speechless. I just love these guys," said Halischuk after he emerged from a mob scene of Canadian jerseys in front of the Swedish net.

"This is really special."

The Canadian juniors also dominated the individual awards.

Netminder Steve Mason was named the Top Goaltender and collected Most Valuable Player honors, while blueliner Drew Doughty (Guelph Storm) was honored as Top Defenceman. Russia's Viktor Tikhonov was named Top Forward.

"It is unbelievable and I can't believe we won," said Mason. "This is the best feeling I have ever had in my whole life. I am just the happiest guy in the world right now."

It was the third straight gold medal for head coach Craig Hartsburg, who was the head coach last year in Sweden and was an assistant coach in Vancouver at the 2006 tournament.

"You can't compare any of them. They are all great," said Hartsburg.

It was Canada's seventh straight appearance in the gold medal game and the 10th straight year that Canada has won a medal at the World Juniors.

Only twice has a country won four straight gold medals. The former Soviet Union were the top team from 1977 to 1980, while Canada captured five straight from 1993 to 1997.

That mark will look to be equaled one year from now when Ottawa plays host to the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship.