Knights’ Bobkov Wins World Junior Gold

Igor Bobkov of the London Knights made 20 saves as Player of the Game Wednesday night to backstop Russia to a 5-3 come-from-behind win over Team Canada at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, NY.

The gold medal was Russia’s first in the World Junior tournament since winning in 2003.

Bobkov played just over 33 minutes in the final contest after suffering a 6-3 loss to Canada on Boxing Day in his only other tournament appearance. 

Bobkov, a 19-year-old from Magnitogorsk, Russia, is an Anaheim Ducks prospect playing in his first OHL season with the Knights. 

With Russia’s gold medal victory, seven OHL players on Team Canada took home silver medals including Ryan Ellis and Zack Kassian of the Windsor Spitfires, Calvin de Haan of the Oshawa Generals, Erik Gudbranson of the Kingston Frontenacs, Casey Cizikas of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, Marcus Foligno of the Sudbury Wolves, and Mark Visentin of the Niagara IceDogs.

In addition, Spitfires’ goaltender Jack Campbell and former Kitchener Rangers’ forward Jeremy Morin claimed bronze medals with Team USA following a 4-2 win Wednesday afternoon over Team Sweden.  This was the first time in tournament history that Team USA earned back-to-back medals, and marks the country’s seventh medal in National Junior Team history. 

The Ontario Hockey League would like to congratulate all 10 players on their 2011 World Junior Hockey Championship medal achievements.