Golden Memories – 1990
Golden again in Helsinki
By Aaron Bell
When Team Canada gathered in Gloucester, Ontario in December 1989 to select the team that would travel to Finland for the World Junior Championships, they knew that the biggest obstacle between them and their fourth gold medal would be, not surprisingly, the Russians.
The year before in the United States, the Soviet line of Sergei Fedorov, Alexander Mogilny and Pavel Bure scored four times as Russia crushed Canada 7-2 on their way to the gold medal.
Only Bure returned from the line the next year, but he was joined by offensive standouts Viacheslav Kozlov and Alexei Zhamnov, along with offensive-minded defencemen Dmitri Yushkevich and Sergei Zubov.
Among the players earning their way onto the roster was returnee Mike Ricci, a star center with the Peterborough Petes who went on to be the Canadian major junior hockey player of the year. Ricci was projected to be the top pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. He was drafted fourth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers the following June.
Lindros Makes International Debut
16-year-old forward Eric Lindros, who joined the Oshawa Generals after the tournament, also made the team, along with OHL’ers Mike Craig (Oshawa), Steve Rice (Kitchener Rangers) and Kris Draper, who joined the Ottawa 67’s from the Canadian National Team the next season.
Team Canada coach Guy Charron, who previously worked with Dave King and Canada’s National Team, was responsible for preparing the team for the international game.
“We are not trying to change them too much,” Charron said before the tournament. “We cannot make them into international players in two weeks. They have to be able to play their own game.”
Bonding in Finland
Canada regrouped in Vierumaki, Finland for a nine-day training camp before traveling south to Helsinki for their opener against the United States on Boxing Day.
The Americans were looking to improve on their fifth place finish from one year ago, but their chances were dramatically reduced when Mike Modano (Minnesota North Stars) and Jeremy Roenick (Chicago Black Hawks) were retained by their NHL clubs.
Stu Barnes (Tri-City – WHL) had a goal and an assist to pace Canada to a 3-2 win over the U.S. in the tournament opener at Turku. The U.S. held a 26-15 advantage in shots through two periods, but Canada responded with a pair of goals in the third period for the win.
“This team has already jelled together a lot better than the team did last year,” said Ricci, who missed the first three games of the tournament with a shoulder injury. “I think a key factor for this team is how well it responds to the bad breaks. We let it affect our play (last year).”
After a day off, Canada coasted to a 12-0 win over Poland. Craig scored a pair of goals and Lindros added his first of the tournament. Rice set the tone physically for the Canadians, crushing Rafal Sroka over the boards and into his team bench.
Lindros scored again the next day, helping Canada double Norway, giving them a perfect 3-0-0 record heading into their New Year’s Eve matchup against Finland, who were 1-2-0 on home ice. The Fins had 13 returning players from the year before, but were without star scorer Teemu Selanne, who suffered a broken leg earlier in the season.
Ricci Returns
Ricci suited up for the first time in the tournament and Rice opened the scoring midway through the first period, but the Canadians couldn’t hold the lead, finishing with a 3-3 tie. Canada may have been guilty of looking past the game to their matchup the next day with Russia.
“It seems that beating Canada is always a big achievement for them (Finland),” said Charron. “We were trying for the win, but we’ve gone through four games and haven’t lost. We’re still very much in contention.”
Showdown with the Soviets
Canada finally had their shot at the Soviets on New Year’s Day. Russia was 4-0-0 in the tournament and had outscored their opponents 33-7. The only shot Canada had at the gold medal was to beat Russia.
“When we play Canada it is always a very serious game,” said the 18-year-old Bure, who led the Russians in scoring the previous year in Alaska. “Because who wins is often the champion.”
The Russians opened the scoring at 11:09 on a powerplay goal set up by Kozlov. They added two more to take a 3-0 lead with 4:13 left in the first period.
Canada responded with a pair of powerplay goals late in the first period, pulling them to within one goal heading into the second. “We had a lot of leadership on the team and players who believed in themselves,” said Charron of the resiliency Canada showed after the early deficit.
Dave Chyzowski, who had spent the first half of the season with the New York Islanders, scored two goals in a little more than two minutes to give Canada their first lead of the game. Wes Walz (Lethbridge – WHL) added an insurance marker before the second period ended. Canada scored again in the third period before Bure buried a powerplay goal with 5:12 remaining in the third.
Canadian netminder Stephane Fiset (Victoriaville – QMJHL), who was questionable for the tournament after suffering a groin injury in the final selection camp, shut the door for the final five minutes, giving Canada a 6-4 win and the inside edge on the gold medal.
“We know that no matter how big our lead is that the Canadians will never think of giving up,” said Soviet coach Robert Cherenkov following the loss. “We always wonder where they find that courage, but it always is there.”
Set For Gold
Canada needed wins over Sweden and Czechoslovakia in their final two games to clinch the gold medal. The Swedes, who were coming off a 7-2 loss to Czechoslovakia, were led by Mats Sundin, the first overall pick in the NHL draft the previous June.
“Beating Canada is not out of the question for us,” said Sundin, who is now the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. “I think we have just as many good hockey players as the Canadian team. In fact, I know we do and we want to show that by beating them. Winning against Russia is good. Winning against Canada is just a little better.”
Lindros scored twice against the Swedes, including the go-ahead goal 3:14 into the third period before Sweden stormed back with three goals in a minute and 36 seconds to edge Canada 5-4.
“We were looking ahead to tomorrow too much and not paying enough attention to the Swedes,” said Draper. “We were too laid back and not pumped up enough.
The loss left Canada needing a win over Czechoslovakia to salvage a silver medal. If Sweden could manage to pull of a win or tie against the Soviets in their final game, Canada would win the gold.
Challenging the Czechs
Czechoslovakia was led by the outstanding offensive trio of Jaromir Jagr, Robert Reichel and Bobby Holik, who combined for 22 goals in the tournament. Reichel was the top scorer in the tournament with 21 points and was named the top forward.
Reichel opened the scoring in the final minute of the first period. Canada responded with a pair of goals in the second period to take the lead with news of the Soviets holding a two-goal lead late in the third period in Helsinki.
With just under three minutes remaining in the game, news came to the Canadian bench that Sweden scored two goals, including the game-tying shot with one second remaining. The bench erupted in emotion knowing that a win against the Czechs would give Canada the gold medal.
“We had to tell the players and while the lid blew off their emotions for a few seconds, but they handled it extremely well,” said Charron. “It will be remembered as a very unusual day in all our lives, very big because we won the world championship but unusual because of how it happened.”
They held on for a 3-2 win over Czechoslovakia and, with a little help from a Swede named Patrick Englund, their fourth World Junior championship.
“”You never doubt that the Canadian spirit will be in our hockey players,” said an elated Charron. “The desire, the heart, the hard work and the willingness to take some bruises to get the job done.”
Tomorrow – 1991 – Golden on Home Ice
