Canada Wins for Three Consecutive Times in the World Junior Hockey Championship

Unfortunately, I missed the game played on January 5, but it can be viewed on TSN.ca, Canada's Sports Leader. For 24 years these two power house teams have battled it on the ice. Canada beat Russia in the gold medal final for the third straight year, winning 4 to 2. The first three goals came in 2:27 minutes late in the first period. Scoring for Canada were Cogliano, Little, Toews, and Marchand. Russians, Valtenko and Churilov scored each a goal. Most valuable player was awarded to Canadian goalie, Carey Price, who made some awesome saves. US player, Erik Johnson received the top defenceman award and Russia's Alexei Cherepanov was honored with the top forward award.

About 300 proud Canucks were among the crowd of over 5000 at Ejendals Arena in Sweden to cheer on the young athletes. Swedes joined the roaring loyal fans, because the Canadians earlier had cheered for the Swedish team in a 2 to 1 loss to the U.S. in the bronze-medal earlier.

This brought back memories of the first game in 1982 when Canada beat Russia 7 to zip. Yes, it is one of those events that one can recall where you were, what you were doing and with whom. People in the USA recall the exact moment in time American astronauts Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin landed on the moon. In Canada it is the time when Russia lost the hockey game. Do Americans know that Tara Lipinski of the USA is the youngest world champion. She won the individual figure skating title in 1997. Perhaps, football and basketball have more memorable stories, given the spectator value. Hockey is our spectator sport, beat an European team and we shout about it. Did you know the surface area of a rink in Europe is larger, making it a difficult transition for North American teams?

Similar to the boys and girls in the USA, who get an early jump on baseball or football, Canadian kids get their first pair of skates at an early age. Outdoor ice rinks, lakes, ponds, the famous Ottawa Canal are available to the public. Hockey is an expensive sport for parents, given fees for ice time, equipment, road trip expenditures, skate sharpening, but kids who are passionate about the sport find a way.

I remember my first pair of Bauer figure skates. White leather exterior, two times too big for me, so I had to stuff a pair of Dad's wool socks into the toe. But, it did not matter, the skates belonged to me. Once the snow was cleared away to create huge banks to smash into when stopping was not an option, Lake Nipissing was our private rink. Lake Nipissing is located in North Bay, Ontario, my hometown.

My older brother, always dressed in Toronto Maple Leaf gear, younger sister and myself would attack the surface. Noses dripping, ankles turned in, pucks flying past, hockey sticks slashing, I taught myself how to skate. No, I am not Dorothy Hamel or Peggy Flemming, but I love the grace, speed and the sharp sound of the blades against the ice. A highlight in my childhood was the ability to brake at top speeds. Such a feeling of control.

Hockey is a family affair in Canada. Mothers and Fathers bundle up their kids to go watch their son or daughter at his/her first pee wee game. If you have not seen little kids play hockey, go! It is a blast, watching little munchkins attempting to maneuver on skates, hold a stick, pass a puck and keep a helmet on that is slipping to the side. Hockey is difficult to master, it involves a lot of coordination, balance and finesse.

In closing I leave you with a quotes from a Canadian columnist, Joey Slinger (b.1943) and Gordie Howe, an all time favorite player, selected 21 times for the NHL All-Star game while playing for the Detroit Red Wings from 1946 to 1979.

"The field of our dreams is flooded and frozen and has a net at either end." (quoted by Joey Slinger)

"All pro athletes are bilingual. They speak and English and profanity." (quoted by Gordie Howe)