Subban relishes another shot at gold
It was a classic move for P.K. Subban.
r
r
In the dying minute of Canada’s semi-final game against Russia on Saturday, his team was scrambling for a goal to tie the game. The Belleville Bulls’ defenceman was carrying the puck through the neutral zone and made a spin move that left his defender standing still at the blueline and brought a roar from the 19,000-plus crowd at ScotiaBank Place in Ottawa. Canada didn’t score on that play but seconds later, Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats found the back of the net to tie the game and set up Canada’s shootout win.
r
r
Subban has made similar moves countless times with the Bulls, including last year when he helped them to game seven of the OHL finals and then into the MasterCard Memorial Cup. But this time, there is no question that the pressure was as great as it’s ever been on the 19-year-old from Rexdale, ON.
r
r
Subban laughed it off after the game and said that he honestly didn’t feel the weight of a nation of hockey fans desperately wanting a goal. He did his best Bull Durham impression after the game.
r
r
“At the end of the day, it’s just a game,” Subban said. “When I step on the ice I think of it as another walk in the park. People are going to make mistakes. The puck’s going to bounce. You’re going to shoot, it might hit the net. It might go in, it might not. There might be a rebound. There are a lot of things that can happen out there. You just have to stay calm, keep the game simple and keep it in front of you. Just try your best. It’s your last shot. The coaches put you out there for a reason.”
r
r
When Eberle did score – with five seconds left on the clock – Subban, who is rarely at a loss for words, said that it was a difficult feeling to describe.
r
r
“I just could not believe that we scored,” Subban said. “You go from on the verge of being kicked out of the tournament and then you’re moving on. It won’t sink in until after the tournament.”
r
r
The win set Canada up in a gold medal showdown against Sweden on Monday (7:00 p.m. Eastern on TSN and RDS). If Canada wins, they will equal their own record of five straight World Junior gold medals.
r
r
Canada knocked off Sweden 3-2 in overtime in the championship game one year ago in the Czech Republic denying Sweden their first gold medal since 1981. The Canadians know that Sweden has been on a mission to get another shot at them this year.
r
r
“I know that they are a great team and they are going to come out ready,” said Subban, one of four returning players in the Canadian lineup. “Obviously they lost last year to us in the final. I know that we’re going to have to bring the same passion and grit that we brought (against Russia). I think the guys totally understand what we have to do to win.”
r
r
Sweden brought home a medal in five straight tournaments in the early 1990’s, but went through a drought 11 years without a medal before winning the silver last year. Their group includes skilled forwards Oscar Moller, who played in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings before being released to play in the tournament, and Calgary Flames’ first rounder Mikael Backlund. Hulking defenceman Victor Hedman is the top European prospect for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft and has demonstrated why with his physical play and offensive skill throughout the tournament.
r
r
“I was told by proud ex-players and scouts that work in the National Hockey League from Sweden that this is the best group of kids that they’ve had since ’81 or way back when those old timers that are playing in the National League now were young guys,” Canadian coach Pat Quinn said.
r
r
Sweden has cruised through the tournament so far, including a perfect 4-0 record in the preliminary round that included a 5-0 win over Russia. They had a bit of a scare early in their semi-final against Slovakia but turned up the offensive heat in the third period and claimed a 5-3 win to give them their second straight berth in the gold medal game and made it clear that they deserve to be in the championship game.
r
r
“They’ve proved it,” Quinn said. “They had hardly any trouble going through the tournament to this point. They handled a very good Russian to team in what appeared to be quite easily. We know they are a very skilful group and we expect to have to find ways to improve our game to be able to match them and their skill level.”
r
r
Meanwhile, Canada needed a come-from-behind effort to beat the U.S.A. in their final preliminary round game and then squeaked out the win over Russia in the semi-finals on Saturday. Quinn said despite the adversity, it has been a thrill to watch his team rebound for a pair of emotional wins.
r
r
“I’ve been in the business a long time and I don’t know if you ever get used to the ups and downs,” Quinn said. “They just kept going. We made youthful mistakes and at the end it could have been really easy (to give up after) giving up that goal with three minutes to go.
r
r
“It’s a thrill obviously that we are going to the gold medal game,” Quinn said. “I know we can play better.”
r