US defeats Canada 5-1 in U-18 hockey game

[barney_rebel]

U.S. beats Canada; win U18 championship

 

 

Canadian Press w/TSN.ca files

 

 

 

4/24/2005

 

Canada did not have the legs to keep up with the fleet-footed Americans in a 5-1 loss in the gold-medal game of the world men's under-18 hockey championship Sunday.

 

 

 

Canada's gas tank emptied as the U.S. pulled further ahead and an ugly hit in the third period on Canadian forward Colton Yellowhorn completely sapped the team at any chance of a comeback.

 

 

 

The Canadians had to find solace in a silver medal. It was not the colour that captain Ryan Parent wanted.

 

 

 

''It doesn't feel too good right now,'' the Guelph Storm forward said. ''You won't win silver, you lose gold.

 

 

 

''That's upsetting, but in the future we'll look back with good memories of this whole tournament.''

 

 

 

It was the second world hockey championship this month in which the U.S. prevailed over Canada as the American women beat their Canadian counterparts 1-0 in a shootout in the final in Linkoping, Sweden.

 

 

 

The men's championship opens Saturday when Canada faces Latvia in Innsbruck, Austria.

 

 

 

U.S. forward Phil Kessel reinforced why he is considered the No. 1 prospect for the 2006 NHL draft with skills and speed that set him apart from others in his age group. He was chosen tournament MVP.

 

 

 

Kessel scored twice, including an empty-net goal, and had two assists to pace the U.S. Jason Lawrence scored two power-play goals and Nathan Gerbe also scored.

 

 

 

Ryan O'Marra of the Erie Otters scored Canada's lone goal in the first period with a power-play goal.

 

 

 

And special teams were key as the Americans converted two of three power-play opportunities while Canada converted one of seven chances.

 

 

 

U.S. goaltender Jeff Frazee gave his team a solid performance as Canada outshot the Americans 49-33 overall and 22-7 in the first period.

 

 

 

The Canadians trailed 4-1 in the third period when the hit on Yellowhorn gave them a five-minute power play. But they were unable to take advantage of it, even with goaltender Carey Price pulled with 49 seconds left in it for a two-man advantage.

 

 

 

The Canadian players had spent several minutes mesmerized as Yellowhorn was put a stretcher and wheeled off the ice and when they returned to the ice, they played distracted.

 

 

 

''A lot of guys were obviously worried for what was wrong with him,'' Parent said. ''He could have broken his neck. That kind of drained the team and set us back on our heels at a crucial point in the game for us.''

 

 

 

Yellowhorn was about a metre from the side boards when he was driven head first into them by U.S. forward Justin Mercier with six minutes to go in the game.

 

 

 

Yellowhorn, a Lethbridge Hurricanes forward, was taken to hospital and was said to be experiencing neck pain, but was also said to be alert and conscious and able to move his fingers and toes. Mercier was given a match penalty.

 

 

 

Yellowhorn returned to the arena shortly thereafter to join his teammates and to collect his silver medal. Doctors said the injury is nothing more than a bruised neck and that Yellowhorn would travel back to Canada with teammates on Monday.

 

 

 

After a shaky start to the tournament that included a 2-1 loss to Sweden, Canada caught fire and beat pre-tournament favourite Russia 6-3 en route to finishing first in its pool. The Canadians then went on to beat the host Czech Republic in thrilling and emotional 3-2 overtime win in Friday's semifinal.

 

 

 

But they could not match the speed of the U.S. on Sunday.

 

 

 

''They're a team built for speed,'' Camp said. ''When you have speed like that it can put a team on its heels and there were times today when we were respecting their speed.

 

 

 

''Certainly a guy like Kessel is outstanding. He's a guy that can dominate from shift to shift.''

 

 

 

While Canada has entered a men's under-18 team in an annual summer tournament since 1991, Hockey Canada began sending a team to the world championship only four years ago.

 

 

 

Canada finished sixth in 2002 before winning it the following year with most of the players who were victorious in this year's world under-20 championship in Grand Forks, N.D. Canada was fourth in 2004 before reaching this year's final.

 

 

 

Some of Canada's top 18-year-olds, such as Rimouski's Sidney Crosby, were unable to play for Canada because they are currently playing post-season hockey with their club teams.

 

 

 

But the class of Canadian players born in 1987 has shown some depth by reaching the final at this world championship and that bodes well for Canada for the 2007 world under-20 championship.

 

 

 

Sunday's final was a study in contrasts between two systems as USA Hockey runs a year-round under-18 team in its National Team Development Program in Ann Arbour, Mich.

 

 

 

The Canadian players were thrown together in about a week after their club teams either finished the regular season or were eliminated in the first round of playoffs.

 

 

 

''There's a big difference between the time spent together and the familiarity the teams have with each other and also their chemistry,'' Camp said. ''Our guys do a great job of coming together very quickly and playing well together in short order.

 

 

 

''They often don't know each other before the tournament starts.''

 

 

 

Notes - Luc Bourdon of the Val-d'Or Foreurs was chosen the best defenceman in the tournament and Foreurs teammate and fellow blue-liner Kristopher Letang was named to the tournament all-star team . . . Sweden beat the Czechs 4-2 for bronze . . . the U.S. also won the under-18 title in 2002 . . . Kessel, who has committed to play for the University of Minnesota next season, won the tournament scoring title with nine goals and seven assists in six games.

 

 

[D-13]

and that hit sounds aweful hopefully the guy is ok

[kazzman]

In the words of John Candy:

 

"Canada Sucks!"

 

[D-13]

QUOTE (kazzman @ Apr 24 2005, 07:34 PM)

In the words of John Candy: "Canada Sucks!"

[barney_rebel]

Wasn't he born there?

[kazzman]

QUOTE (barney_rebel @ Apr 24 2005, 10:42 PM)

Wasn't he born there?

It's a quote from the movie Canadian Bacon, where he plays an over patriotic American Sherrif from Niagra Falls.

[barney_rebel]

QUOTE (kazzman @ Apr 24 2005, 10:43 PM)

QUOTE (barney_rebel @ Apr 24 2005, 10:42 PM) Wasn't he born there? It's a quote from the movie Canadian Bacon, where he plays an over patriotic American Sherrif from Niagra Falls. Yeah I have the DVD. Best Michael Moore movie ever.

[kazzman]

QUOTE (barney_rebel @ Apr 24 2005, 10:45 PM)

QUOTE (kazzman @ Apr 24 2005, 10:43 PM) QUOTE (barney_rebel @ Apr 24 2005, 10:42 PM) Wasn't he born there? It's a quote from the movie Canadian Bacon, where he plays an over patriotic American Sherrif from Niagra Falls. Yeah I have the DVD. Best Michael Moore movie ever. Exactly.